Randall Stephenson resigns from PGA Tour board over 'serious concerns' about Saudi deal - ESPN

Former AT&T chairman Randall Stephenson resigned from the PGA Tour's policy board over concerns about the tour's proposed partnership with Saudi Arabia's national wealth fund, The Washington Post reported Sunday.

The PGA Tour confirmed the resignation in a memo to its members, referring to Stephenson's «exemplary service» for more than 12 years.

Stephenson retired as chairman and CEO of AT&T in June 2020.

The Post said it obtained a copy of his letter, which was dated Saturday and said the tour's framework agreement with Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund «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, a Washington Post contributing columnist and critic of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, was slain at the Saudi consulate in Istanbul in 2018. U.S. intelligence concluded the crown prince likely approved the killing, which the crown prince denies.

PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan stunned every corner of the golf world — including his own membership — when he announced on June 6 a partnership with the PIF, which had paid for the rival LIV Golf League and was part of antitrust lawsuits against the PGA Tour.

The agreement, which still requires PGA Tour board approval and is being looked at by the Justice Department, would create a for-profit company in which the PIF, the PGA Tour and the European tour would pool their commercial business and media rights.

Monahan would be the CEO and Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the PIF governor, would be chairman of the new company. Al-Rumayyan also would have a seat on the PGA Tour board, though the PGA had assurances in the preliminary deal that it would always