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Lack of crowd control irks players at HanaBank

Perhaps the LPGA will soon have mobile device policy enforcement police, too.

According to a report Sunday in the Korea Times, players were growing increasingly frustrated with cellphone-wielding gallery members during the HanaBank Championship.

Cellphones are permitted during LPGA events, but devices must be turned on vibrate or silent so as not to disrupt the players. The PGA Tour has a similar policy, and most tournaments feature a designated area where fans can talk and text on their phones.

In Incheon, South Korea, problems began to surface on Friday, when world No. 1 Yani Tseng, Na Yeon Choi and Michelle Wie were grouped in the opening round. The final group Sunday of eventual winner Suzann Pettersen, So Yeon Ryu and Se Ri Pak also voiced their displeasure with the lack of crowd control. 

Several players reportedly backed off shots, and caddies repeatedly instructed fans to put their phones away.

“Foreign players, as well as Koreans, were distracted by the clicks and snaps of camera shutters,” said Pak, according to the report. “This tournament has been held for more than 10 years, and it is considered as the best among those taking place in Asia, but fans need to take a little bit more attention.” 

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