These days it’s almost impossible to attend a big professional sporting event without seeing fans obsessively filming and photographing the action on their mobile phones.
Almost impossible.
At The Masters golf tournament, strict rules are in place to prohibit anyone bringing their phones onto the hallowed turf of the course at Augusta, Georgia.
The world-famous home of the Green Jacket has banned phones, laptops, tablets, beepers, drones and other electronics in order to ensure spectators focus on the play on the greens and fairways instead of documenting it for social media.
‘Part of what makes the Masters such a unique environment is the lack of cell phones on the grounds,’ the tournament’s website says.
The ban is in many ways integral to the sense of nostalgia and mystique that makes The Masters so revered and special.
Unlike just about every other high-profile sporting event, The Masters golf tournament bans fans from bringing their mobile phones – meaning fans are always focused on the action, as they are in this photo of Rory McIlroy winning this year’s crown
McIlroy (pictured) joined a very select group of all-time greats when he won his second straight title at Augusta National this week
The phone-free scenes in Georgia stand in contrast with scores of fans taking photos and videos on their phones as Jannik Sinner won the 2026 Monte Carlo Masters (pictured)
It’s a concept you’ll struggle to find in operation at any other sporting event across the globe.
The Masters tournament has been forced to introduce new measures to stop more modern technologies from being snuck into Augusta National.
It has stepped up efforts to stop fans sneaking in AI glasses that allow them to circumvent the strict no-phone and no-camera policy.
Over recent years, brands such as Oakley and Ray-Ban have released Meta AI glasses that contain mini speakers, microphones and cameras.
The devices allow users to send and receive messages, listen to music and capture photos and video, with their popularity surging in recent months.
In recent years, due to the technology being difficult to detect by the untrained eye, some fans have brought the glasses into the Masters before posting videos online.
There have also been reports of a number of fans wearing the gadgets during the tournament, prompting calls for the club to add them to the banned list.
Fans are allowed to bring cameras inside Augusta for practice rounds but as soon as the tournament starts on Thursday, the club bans electronic devices.
However, spectators can still make calls, with free phone banks provided.
