Masters phone policy gets Mark Calcavecchia booted from Augusta National
Major champion Mark Calcavecchia was removed from Augusta National for violating the Masters' strict no-phone policy.
AUGUSTA, Ga. – The Masters no-phone policy applies to all patrons. That includes major champions, as Mark Calcavecchia found out the hard way on Tuesday.
Calcavecchia, the 1989 British Open champion, was removed from Augusta National Golf Club by security for using his phone at the 90 th Masters . Winners of men’s golf’s other three majors are exempt for five years into the Masters and then become “honorary invitees. ” Calcavecchia, 65, played in the Masters 18 times during his career between 1987 and 2008 and finished second in 1988.
When the 13-time PGA Tour winner was reached by phone and asked to explain what led to his dismissal, he didn’t offer any details, but he also didn’t deny that it happened. More: Masters fans embrace old cameras at Augusta “I’ve got nothing negative to say about Augusta National Golf Club and the Masters, so I think we should literally hang up right now,” he said. Before another word could be uttered, he proceeded to do so.
The Masters has AT&T as “a champion partner,” the top tier of sponsorship, and the communications company provides banks of phones that patrons can use on the course to make calls, but the club strictly prohibits cell phones, laptops, tablets and two-way pagers. The policy is enforced "to maintain a traditional atmosphere. " Violating this rule can lead to immediate expulsion and loss of tickets.