By Mark Garrod, PA Sport Golf Correspondent

The 67th Masters will be unlike any of the previous 66 - and that has nothing to do with the golfers playing in it.

Augusta National, the club which hosts the event each April, finds itself in the middle of an almighty row which erupted last year and even had implications at the White House.

The issue is women. Or rather the absence of them.

Protests are planned against the all-male membership at Augusta and protests are planned against the protests.

Such has been the publicity already given to the matter that Tiger Woods, going for a record third successive title, says: "I think the Masters has been tarnished for this year.

"This year there will be more to it. It would be great if it would all go away and we could just play a golf tournament again."

No chance, it seems.

Martha Burk, chairwoman of the six-million-member National Council of Women's Organisations, ignited the row when she wrote to the exclusive Augusta National demanding a change to their policy.

The response of club chairman Hootie Johnson did nothing to placate her.

"Our membership alone decides our membership - not any outside group with its own agenda," he said. "We will not be bullied, threatened or intimidated.

"We do not intend to become a trophy in their display case. There may well come a day when women will be invited to join our membership, but that timetable will be ours and not at the point of a bayonet."

The row escalated to the point where Augusta took the decision to broadcast the tournament without advertising so that companies associated with the event would not come under pressure.

It was reported that the move will cost the club over £5million and bite deep into estimated profits of £9million from ticket sales, merchandising and overseas television rights.

The Rev. Jesse Jackson, who was in Britain recently protesting against the war with Iraq, plans to join the NCWO, but opposition groups include the Augusta-based Women Against Martha Burk, the BurkStopsHere.com and possibly even some members of the Ku Klux Klan.

The White House became involved when John Snow was appointed treasury secretary. He was a member, but then quit the club to avoid the controversy.

Jackson said: "It's an insult to all that America stands for. We support strongly the movement to end the gender apartheid at Augusta National Golf Club. The gender bigotry is as offensive as racial or religious bigotry.

"This is a very national, public organisation. It is as much private as it is public."

The official protests have been allowed to take place outside the club gates, but what everyone is waiting to see is if any demonstrators secure any of the highly-prized tickets to the event and attempt disruption.

The St Andrews-based Royal and Ancient Club, which also has no women members, will be watching with interest.