Orlando, Fla. ? The road to the Masters starts in Florida.

For Tiger Woods, the first leg was only a short drive down the street from his house to the Bay Hill Invitational, a tournament he is trying to win for the fourth straight time.

The rest of the road is one big speed trap.

Woods conceded as much Tuesday when asked whether the debate about Augusta National’s all-male membership was hurting the game.

Never mind that Woods is going after an unprecedented third straight Masters title. Or that he has won twice in three tournaments since his return from knee surgery. Or that he feels better about his game than he has in two years.

“It’s become not just about a golf tournament anymore,” Woods said after a long pause and a deep breath. “There’s where it’s gotten to now. It used to be the first major of the year, and everyone looked forward to that.

“Now, it’s not that anymore, for a number of reasons.”

Perhaps he was referring to the groups that plan to protest somewhere outside the gates of Augusta National, or the number of questions about the club thrown in Woods’ direction before he hits his opening tee shot.

Otherwise, there is only one reason the Masters is about more than just golf.

Martha Burk and her National Council of Women’s Organization wanted Augusta National to invite its first female member before the Masters. Club chairman Hootie Johnson said no.

Everything else seems to be an afterthought.

“All the peripheral stuff is going to detract a lot from the tournament,” Nick Price said. “Maybe on Thursday, everything will have been forgotten and we’ll be on our way.”

It’s the three weeks leading up to the event that makes this a different road to the Masters.

Jim Furyk was talking to a PGA Tour staff member about the Masters a few weeks ago when he mentioned the fifth hole at Augusta National, which has been lengthened by 20 yards to bring the bunker down the left side into play.

“He had no idea there were changes to No. 5,” Furyk said.

This is Furyk’s eighth straight year playing the Masters, and he knows the routine. When the PGA Tour leaves the West Coast, he starts hearing questions about the Masters. They gradually increase through the Florida swing and hit full force at The Players Championship.

“I’m a little leery this time,” Furyk said. “I’m worried about having to take polls that ask if it’s right or wrong. To have someone run up and ask three questions, yes or no, that’s upsetting, because that’s not how to express your opinion.”