Just over one month ago, the PGA Tour sent shockwaves through the worldwide golf community with the announcement that it would enter into a formal business relationship Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund (PIF).
On Sunday, the tour suffered its first defection following the announcement.
The PGA Tour Policy Board is a ten member group that guides the tour’s decision-making policies. On Sunday, Board Member Randall Stephenson, former Chairman and CEO of AT&T, submitted his letter of resignation to the other nine members.
In part, Stephenson wrote that the deal: “is 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.”
Khashoggi was a Saudi journalist and author who was well known for his critical views of the Saudi government.
In October 2018, Khashoggi entered the Saudi consulate in Istanbul to obtain documents related to his impending marriage. No one saw him leave. Numerous news reports claimed that he was killed and dismembered while inside. Saudi government officials adamantly denied the accusations.
Following numerous investigations, Saudi Arabia’s attorney general eventually announced that Khashoggi had indeed been premeditatedly murdered. The Central Intelligence Agency concluded that Mohammed bin Salman, the Crown Prince and Prime Minister of Saudi Arabia, ordered the murder.
The Public Investment Fund is the sovereign wealth fund of Saudi Arabia, with total estimated assets of $650 billion. The fund was created in 1971 with the purpose of investing funds on behalf of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.
Stephenson had initially planned for to resign on June 12, but is now expected to delay his exit until Commission Jay Monahan’s scheduled return on July 17.
Policy Board Member Jimmy Dunne, who orchestrated the deal with the PIF, is to testify before Congress tomorrow (Tuesday, July 11th).
The ten member board will ultimately vote on whether or not to approved the proposed deal.
There is currently no timetable for the vote.
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