By Phil Casey, PA Sport, Augusta

Chairman Hootie Johnson today stood firm on the controversial issue of Augusta National's all-male membership policy - and warned the opinion of Tiger Woods or the permanent loss of television revenue would make no difference.

Martha Burk, chairwoman of the National Council of Women's Organisations, plans a high-profile protest on Saturday and urged American companies to drop their support of the tournament.

The club retaliated by telling the Masters sponsors - IBM, Coca-Cola and Citigroup - that it would not require their participation in 2003 and the television coverage will have no adverts.

That is believed to have cost the club around US$7 million (£4,505.374) and raised questions about how long the tournament could survive without such revenue.

But Johnson insisted the first major of the year could go on 'indefinitely' without television sponsors, and repeated his assertion that the club would not change its policy on women members "at the point of a bayonet".

"The fact is we are a private club," said Johnson, whose traditional pre-tournament press conference was unusually standing-room only.

"Just because we host a golf tournament, because some of our members are well known, should not cause us to be viewed differently.

"Just because we present a world class sporting event one week a year doesn't affect our private club status.

"I have also stated there may well come a time when we include women as members of our club, and that remains true. However, I want to emphasise that we have no timetable and our membership is very comfortable with our present status.

"Our club will continue to make our own decisions."

There had been some speculation in the American media that Johnson would introduce the club's first female member at Wednesday's press conference to head off Saturday's planned protest by the NCWO.

But while that did not happen, many commentators believe that women members will eventually be admitted, but the club is determined to do so at its own pace, and not appear to be forced into it by the current protests.

Johnson used the phrase 'not at the point of a bayonet' in response to Burk's original letter to the club last year complaining about the lack of women members, and Woods' belief there should be female members is not likely to cut much ice either.

"I won't tell Tiger how to play golf if he doesn't tell us how to run our private club," added Johnson.

Johnson did agree however with Woods' belief that the debate had taken some of the shine off the event, adding: "It's been maligned but I don't think it's been damaged.

"I think the Masters will continue to be one of the great sporting events of the world, next year and the year after, and the year after."

The Masters could have a first female competitor before it has a female member, with Annika Sorenstam set to pave the way by taking up an invite to play a men's US Tour event in Texas this year.

Johnson was happy to admit that if a woman qualified to play at Augusta, most likely by winning the US Amateur Public Links championship, she would receive an invitation.

"If we have one qualify we'll sure send an invitation," he added.