PGA Tour gives fans green light to use mobile phones

PACIFIC PALISADES, California (Reuters) - Spectators will be permitted to carry mobile phones at PGA Tour events and use them in designated areas starting at next month's Honda Classic, the tour said Tuesday.

The tour had allowed cell phones on site at five tournaments in recent months as part of an ongoing experiment to enhance the overall fan experience before deciding to make the policy official.

"We understand that mobile devices are an important part of everyday life," Andy Pazder, the PGA Tour's chief of operations, said in a statement.

"We concluded, after the five test tournaments, that allowing mobile devices on-site at Tour events was a tremendous fan enhancement, allowing them to stay connected to business and family.

"We anticipate our fans will be respectful of the policy and as a result the integrity of our competitions will not be compromised."

The policy will start at the March 3-6 Honda Classic in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida, where spectators will be allowed to use mobile phones to send and receive e-mails and text messages, check on-course data and make calls in designated areas.

No video recording will permitted at any time during the week while still photography will be allowed only on practice days before the start of official competition.

The mobile device policy will be implemented on a tournament-by-tournament basis, the tour said.

However, fans will not be allowed to bring mobile phones to the course for the four majors -- the Masters, U.S. Open, British Open and PGA Championship.

(Writing by Mark Lamport-Stokes in Los Angeles; Editing by Steve Ginsburg; To comment on this story email sportsfeedback@thomsonreuters.com)