Korea’s cellphone laws are recipe for Bubba Watson implosion at the Presidents Cup

Bubba Watson, if he has not already been informed, will know soon enough that cell phones outnumber citizens in South Korea.

And by law, none of the mobile devices can be set on silent when photos are snapped.

Uh oh.

Players on both sides of the U.S.-Internationals competition have commented about the sea of cell phones clattering away during practice rounds on the Jack Nicklaus Golf Club in Incheon, South Korea. They’re girding themselves for the din to get even worse when the event tees off for real on Thursday.

“In the beginning, you think this is unbelievable,” American Jimmy Walker said on Wednesday. “But really, after awhile, it just becomes white noise and it’s not a big deal. It’s not where you’re at home [on the PGA Tour], where one can really stand out. Here, it’s just constant.”

Walker said he was able to ignore the constant clicking so far, and South African Branden Grace said it was all part of the event.

“Golf is so huge in Asia, and the people just love photos,” he said. “I don’t think there’s any other way to put it. It really gets nuts out there sometimes. They all mean well. I know maybe the excitement gets too much for them but you just have to deal with it and carry on.

“Sometimes, when you get into pressure situations, you don’t really need the distractions. But as a team, we are mentally strong. If you’re mentally strong, you should be able to step back in and go through all the same processes again.”

That might be more difficult for some than for others.

Watson may be the most vocal of his U.S. Ryder Cup teammates when it comes to on-course distractions, among which clicking cellphone cameras rank right up there with rain on the club head and the flapping of butterfly wings on an adjoining fairway. But he is not the only member of Team USA to complain about such disturbances in the past.

Golf fans may recall Phil Mickelson withdrawing from the 2012 Memorial Tournament after an opening round of 79. While Lefty blamed “mental fatigue” for his early exit, Watson and Rickie Fowler both remarked about the plethora of spectators taking phone photos forcing them to back off shots.

Before quitting, Mickelson reportedly texted a gripe about the issue to tour commissioner Tim Finchem.

“Phil’s a great player and a great champion, and it just took him out of his game. It’s sad. It’s sad that cellphones can make or break a championship,” Bubba said three years ago.

“It makes it very difficult,” he said. “Ever since [the tour] made that rule that cellphones are allowed, it’s just not fun playing.”

Fast forward three years and officials are telling fans they can’t take pictures during Presidents Cup competition, according to Golf Channel’s Todd Lewis. Lewis was skeptical, however, about the ability to enforce the prohibition in such a “selfie, cellphone picture-taking culture.”

Watson will let us all know how that government ban on silent mode thing is working out when he and J.B. Holmes take on Adam Scott and Hideki Matsuyama in the first foursome match of the tournament on Thursday. Say ‘Cheese!’ Bubba.

SB Nation video archives: Urban golfing with a U.S. Open champ (2012)