Former major champion Mark Calcavecchia was kicked out of Augusta National Golf Club during Masters Week for violating its hardline no-phone policy, Golfweek reports.
Calcavecchia, 65, a 13-time PGA Tour winner and the 1989 British Open champion, was removed from the grounds by security on Tuesday (April 7), two days before play begins in the first-round of the 90th Masters Tournament on Thursday (April 9). Golfweek said it reached out to Calcavecchia and asked for an explanation for his dismissal, which he refused, though not denying that the incident took place.
“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 doing so, according to the outlet.
The Masters has AT&T as one of its “champion partner” top-tier sponsors and the company provides banks of phones that patrons can use to make calls, however, the club strictly prohibits the usage of cell phones, laptops, tablets and two-way pagers in an effort “to maintain a traditional atmosphere.” A violation of the policy can result in immediate expulsion and a loss of tickets.
Former Golf Channel broadcaster Charlie Rymer lost his credential in 2011 after he stepped outside the media center set up at Augusta National to talk on his cell phone.
“We explained to him our policy, how we take it very seriously and we sent him home,” an Augusta National spokesman said at the time.
Golfer Keegan Bradley also told Golfweek that he once drove his sister on the property and she was caught with a phone in the clubhouse.
“They were going to kick her out and she cried, and they let her put her phone in a safe and stay,” Bradley said.
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