Open ends mobile ban
25/04/2012
Golf fans can have a great time enjoying corporate hospitality during the Open Golf Championship - and let others know about it.
The Royal and Ancient Club (R&A) has voted to lift its ban on the use of the devices by spectators at this year's tournament, which takes place at Royal Lytham and St Anne's in Lancashire.
Speaking to the BBC, R&A chief executive Peter Dawson said: "There is no denying the attachment people feel to their mobile phones. Allowing their use at the championship will enrich the Open experience."
The ban came in during 2007 for the Open at Carnoustie in Scotland, after some players expressed concern at the number of phones in use at the 2006 championship at Hoylake.
This will be the first Open at Lytham since 2001 and fans will be keen to see who wins from a wide-open field, with a number of different players taking major titles since Tiger Woods fell from grace.
Among them will be American Bubba Watson, who recently won the US Masters at Augusta.
By Liz Johnstone