Disconnected: Some Masters fans ‘jonesing’ for their phones

Patrick Reed of the US and his caddie walk up the 10th during a practice round at the Augusta National Golf Club. — Reuters

AUGUSTA, Georgia: Mary Gray hadn’t even made it all the way to the first tee at Augusta National Golf Club when the reality of the protective bubble that settles over the course during Masters’ week fully set in.

She knew the club’s “no phone policy” and dutifully left her cell in her group’s rental car. Standing near the massive leaderboard to the right of the first fairway before Tuesday’s practice round and clutching a disposable camera that took multiple trips to a drug store to secure, Gray kept reflexively tapping her pocket.