SerpApi.Org
Golf icon Tom Watson has urged all of the sport's major championships to adopt The Masters' approach and prohibit mobile phones. Augusta National requires spectators to hand over their devices, and Watson, who has won The Open five times, has observed the advantages.
Currently, fans at other tournaments are permitted to keep their phones while watching the competition.
Yet the 76 year old contended it diminishes the spectator experience while also creating harmful effects on other areas of life. "Look at Augusta," Watson told The Telegraph.
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"The crowds there...you see joy all over their faces. I mean, they're actually talking to each other. They are present with each other. I was in a restaurant in Geneva earlier this week, and I'm looking down at a table, all four people are on their cell phones... Not speaking with each other at all.
"You lose the experience of humanity. And I'm guilty of it too. But Augusta, I really like the atmosphere at Augusta because of no cell phones.",
Watson also voiced worries about the accessibility of mobile gambling during such tournaments and the danger of that affecting the play. He stated he would "absolutely" back a prohibition on mobile devices at all four majors and other premier events such as the Ryder Cup, should such a proposal come forward.
He's not alone in observing how the absence of cell phones can influence competition. Scottie Scheffler and Ludvig Aberg are among those positioned to contrast the phone-free Masters with other events where such restrictions don't exist.
"There's no people asking for selfies in the middle of the round," Scheffler observed at the 2026 edition. "It's very calm out there, and people follow the rules here. For us as players, it's really an enjoyable experience."
Aberg continued: "It feels like the fans are a little bit more engaged in the golf. They're a little bit more attuned to what's going on. It's a cool environment to play. It feels like good golf shots are being appreciated, in a different way."
