On the eve of the Masters, Hootie Johnson refused to back down once again on the issue of women members, saying he will not change his mind and that the controversy will not damage the tournament.

With more than 60 green-jacketed members standing by in silent support, the Augusta National chairman said the club is united in the belief that it has a right to choose its members.

"It's not my issue alone," Johnson said Wednesday. "If I drop dead this second, our position will not change."

Johnson also rejected a suggestion that Tiger Woods or any other past champions could influence members to change their minds.

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

Johnson made his comments during his annual state-of-the-Masters press conference, before a standing-room only crowd of reporters and Augusta members.

He began by reading a statement saying he had said everything he had to say on the women's issue during the last 10 months and would answer no questions about it.

He then spent the next half-hour doing just that, defending the club's stance that it will admit a woman only when it wants.

"Our membership is very comfortable with its present status," Johnson said. "Our club will continue to make its own decisions."

Johnson dismissed suggestions that protests scheduled for Saturday near the club and the continuing discussion about the subject would hurt the image of a tournament revered by golfers and fans.

"It's been maligned, but it hasn't been damaged," Johnson said. "I think the Masters will be a great sporting event."

This year's Masters will be televised commercial-free by CBS and USA Network and, when asked how long that could continue, Johnson said, "Indefinitely."

Johnson released sponsors from this year's broadcast so they wouldn't be targeted for boycotts over the membership issue.

Johnson's appearance had been widely anticipated in the wake of efforts by women's rights activist Martha Burk to spearhead protests against the tournament.

Reporters gathered early to get seats, but the back two rows were already occupied by mostly gray-haired members there to give their support to Johnson.

The club chairman was at times jocular, but grew testy when the third question of the session was about why there could be no questions about the women issue.

"I've made my statement. We're here to talk about the Masters tournament," Johnson said. "If you have a question about the Masters I'll answer it, but don't lecture me."

Of the 34 questions asked Johnson, 26 of them had something to do with the issue of a woman member.

When someone asked whether players would be allowed to lift, clean and place the ball because of soggy conditions this year, Johnson said: "Thank you. That's why we're here."

Although Johnson did talk about the controversy, he repeatedly refused to get drawn into questions about Burk.

"I'm not going to address anything I said or did or anything she said or did," he said.

While Johnson repeated his contention that the club will decide when and if it wants a woman member, he said there could possibly be a woman player in the Masters if she qualifies by winning the U.S. Public Links.

That is the goal of 13-year-old Michelle Wie, the long hitter who contended in the LPGA's Kraft Nabisco in the final round two weeks ago.

"If we have one qualify we'll sure send her an invitation," Johnson said.

Johnson also said it was his belief that men and women like to have their own separate events, whether it is a sewing circle or an Elk's lodge.

"Men like to get together with men every now and then and women like to get together with women every now and then," Johnson said. "It's a simple fact of life in America."