Dunne resigns PGA's Tour policy board, effective immediately - ESPN

Jimmy Dunne, who last year helped negotiate the PGA Tour's controversial framework agreement with Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund, resigned from the tour's policy board on Monday.

In Dunne's resignation letter, a copy of which was obtained by ESPN, Dunne wrote that «no meaningful progress has been made towards a transaction with PIF» and that «my vote and my role is utterly superfluous» now that player directors outnumber independent directors on the policy board. Dunne's resignation was effective immediately.

«It is crucial for the Board to avoid letting yesterday's differences interfere with today's decisions, especially when they influence future opportunities for the tour,» Dunne wrote. «Unifying professional golf is paramount to restoring fan interest and repairing wounds left from a fractured game. I have tried my best to move all minds in that direction.»

Along with PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan, Dunne and policy board chairman Ed Herlihy secretly negotiated the framework agreement with the PIF, which is financing the rival LIV Golf League. Monahan and PIF governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan announced the deal on June 6. Most PGA Tour players — including some player directors — were unaware of the deal until it was announced on TV.

The framework agreement expired Dec. 31, but the sides have continued to try to negotiate a deal. Monahan and player directors, including Tiger Woods, met with Al-Rumayyan in the Bahamas on March 18.

At the Masters in April, Woods said the meeting was productive.

«I don't know if we're closer, but certainly we're headed in the right direction,» Woods said. «That was a very positive meeting, and I think both sides came away from the meeting feeling positive.»

The PGA Tour did strike a