Break out the paint brushes and poster boards.

With neither side willing to budge on the debate over Augusta National’s all-male membership, the leader of a women’s group said Tuesday it was “more likely than ever” there will be protesters at the Masters next April.

“People are angry about it,” said Martha Burk, head of the National Council of Women’s Organizations. “People have been making plans at my request to go down there. It sounds like if nothing changes, there probably will be pickets and demonstrators.”

Burk spoke after reviewing an interview with Augusta National chairman Hootie Johnson, his first since the controversy began in July.

Johnson was adamant that the Masters will be played no matter what, and that there was no chance a woman would be among the 300 members at Augusta by then.

Burk refused to take no for an answer.

“I don’t accept it as the last word,” Burk said. “It may even be the last gasp to stave off change. This has all the earmarks of a person under siege.”

Clearly, neither Burk nor Johnson are giving in.

Both think they’re right. Both think they will prevail. Both believe the majority of Americans are on their side.

During an interview from his office, Johnson pointed to four bulging files of letters on his desk that support Augusta National and its right to associate with whomever it wants.

“Nice prop,” Burk said. “If you want to come over here, I can stack them for you, too.”

The club plans to release a public opinion survey today conducted by a Washington polling company that indicates, among other things, that most people agree Augusta National can set their own membership policies as a private club.

“He’s got just enough of a kernel of truth to be able to convince some people on this business about being within his legal rights,” Burk said. “He has succeeded in getting some people to view this as a Friday night poker game in their basement.”

Still, she said her campaign has produced progress. And she is not convinced that Johnson’s point of view is shared by most.

“What he’s doing is wrong, and I believe the American people know he’s wrong,” she said. “The ruling bodies in golf :quot; (PGA Tour commissioner) Tim Finchem notwithstanding :quot; know he’s wrong. Everybody agrees this is not good for golf.

“It’s inevitable there is going to be admission of a woman member to Augusta.”

Johnson sure didn’t make it sound that way. Blending constitutional rights with male bonding, he said a woman member at Augusta is “out in the future,” but definitely not before April.

Burk was just as resolve about her campaign.

“We haven’t given up on anyone,” she said.