Mazda3 won't start in neutral

I've got a 2004 Mazda3 that won't start when it's in neutral. It's an automatic and I know it used to start in neutral. I can get it to start in a weird way. With the car off, I put it in reverse. I turn the key in the ignition and WHILE holding the key in the crank position if I put the car in neutral from reverse it will start. What could the problem be?:confused: