A member of the PGA board responsible for approving LIV deal resigns after concerns over Saudi Arabia's role in Jamal Khashoggi's death, report says
Richard Drew/AP
- PGA Tour and LIV Golf shocked the sports world when they announced a merger in June.
- The deal is in the process of being finalized and needs approval from the PGA Tour policy board.
- Randall Stephenson, a member of the board since 2012, planned to resign sooner, WaPo reported.
A member of the PGA Tour policy board, which plays a critical role in moving the organization's deal with LIV Golf forward, resigned from his position, citing concerns with Saudi Arabia's role in a reporter's death in 2018, The Washington Post reported.
Randall Stephenson, one of 10 board members since 2012, submitted his resignation letter dated Sunday and reviewed by The Post. According to the report, Stephenson said the deal was "not one that I can objectively evaluate or in good conscience support, particularly in light of the US intelligence report concerning Jamal Khashoggi in 2018."
PGA Tour and LIV Golf, which is backed by Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund (PIF), announced a merger in June, agreeing to "unify the game of golf on a global basis."
The move shocked the golf world as the two organizations were in the middle of several lawsuits while players who stayed with PGA and those who defected to LIV with large paychecks got into public spats.
Some critics — including the PGA Tour at one point — accused Saudi Arabia of jumpstarting LIV Golf to "sportswash" the country's record of human rights violations.
In 2018, Washington Post reporter Jamal Khashoggi was brutally murdered during his visit to the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, Turkey. A US intelligence report concluded about a month later that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman ordered the assassination of Khashoggi.
Stephenson cited the intelligence report as chief amongst his concerns with the PGA-LIV deal. According to the Post, he planned to resign days after the merger was announced but delayed the move after PGA Tour Commissioner Jay Monahan went on medical leave. Monahan plans to return on July 17.
"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, according to the Post. "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."
Stephenson told the Post the letter "covers everything I have to say" and declined to comment further.
The policy board comprises five independent directors, including the deal's architect, Jimmy Dunne, and five players, including Patrick Cantlay and Rory McIlroy. McIlroy has been amongst the most outspoken players against Saudi's LIV Golf.
It's unclear where all the board members stand on the deal and what will happen in light of Stephenson's resignation. According to ESPN, the PGA Tour's bylaws state the four independent directors must consult the five players to choose Stephenson's replacement.
A PGA Tour spokesperson did not respond to a request for comment.
Stephenson's resignation also comes just days before Dunne and PGA Tour COO Rob Price are scheduled to testify before the Senate Homeland Security Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations regarding the PGA-LIV merger. US lawmakers who were also shocked by the merger have raised concerns with the details of the agreement.
"Americans deserve to know what the structure and governance of this new entity will be," Sen. Richard Blumenthal, who chairs the subcommittee said, according to Associated Press. "Major actors in the deal are best positioned to provide this information, and they owe Congress — and the American people — answers in a public setting."