Report: PGA Tour board member RESIGNS after LIV Golf deal
The PGA Tour board member reportedly had "serious concerns" about the new deal.
A member of the PGA Tour's policy board has resigned, citing "serious concerns" regarding the recent agreement with LIV Golf's backers.
Randall Stephenson, a long-time board member and former AT&T executive, gave notice of his resignation in a written letter dated 8 July, according to a report by The Washington Post.
Stephenson had been a member of the 10-person board - which includes players like Rory McIlroy and Patrick Cantlay - for over a decade.
“I joined this board 12 years ago to serve the best players in the world and to expand the virtues of sportsmanship instilled through the game of golf,” Stephenson wrote in the letter, per the report.
“I hope, as this board moves forward, it will comprehensively rethink its governance model and keep its options open to evaluate alternative sources of capital beyond the current framework agreement.”
On 6 June, the PGA Tour announced a bombshell agreement with the Saudi Arabia PIF to combine their golf-related commercial rights and businesses, and that of the DP World Tour's as well, to create a new, for-profit entity.
That includes LIV Golf, which is notably financially backed by the PIF.
The announcement came as a shock to many, after over a year of lawsuits between the three parties and multiple public feuds.
It also appears as though few knew that a deal was in the works, with McIlroy telling reporters at the RBC Canadian Open the week of that he had only found out shortly before it went public.
The terms were reportedly agreed upon 30 May. Those involved from the PGA Tour side included commissioner Jay Monahan, and PGA Tour policy board members Jimmy Dunne and Ed Herlihy.
In the letter announcing his resignation, Stephenson reportedly said that the deal was “not one that I can objectively evaluate or in good conscience support, particularly in light of the U.S. intelligence report concerning Jamal Khashoggi in 2018.”
Shortly after the agreement was made public, it was announced that Monahan would be taking time away for health-related reasons.
On 7 July, the PGA Tour announced that Monahan would be resuming his position 17 July.
According to the report, Stephenson had said that he planned to resign earlier, but delayed it after hearing of Monahan's leave.
On Tuesday, PGA Tour chief operating officer Ron Price and Dunne are set to speak at a Senate panel hearing regarding the PGA Tour's new agreement with the PIF.
