Weekley distracted by Chinese galleries at World Cup

By Nick Mulvenney

SHENZHEN, China (Reuters) - Chinese galleries at this week's World Cup have been appreciative but American Boo Weekley found the constant chatter and frequent mobile phone ringing distracting on Friday.

Despite notices on the tickets that mobile phones must be switched off and spectators must be "absolutely silent when players are preparing and taking their shots", Weekley was not the only player with a problem.

Scot Colin Montgomerie, who has played in China several times and is famously sensitive to distractions, called for quiet at the 17th green and then glowered at the grandstand when a mobile phone went off.

"There's a lot of movement out there, a lot of talking," said Weekley, who leads the $5-million (2.43 million pounds) tournament at the halfway stage with compatriot Heath Slocum.

"Meanwhile we're playing and you can hear them all coming down the fairways and there are golf carts coming around everywhere."

Weekley, a 10-year professional, said he had played with distractions before but not at the top level of golf and especially not when playing the tricky foursomes format.

"Growing up, we distracted each other, playing with a bunch of friends," the 34-year-old Floridian said. "But you ain't focusing as hard as you are out here, because it's a grind."

Weekley, who takes his nickname from cartoon character Yogi Bear's sidekick Boo Boo, said he was otherwise enjoying his third trip out of the United States and liked other aspects of the crowd's behaviour.