Today, the PGA Tour announced that board member, David Stephenson, has resigned due to “serious concerns” over the Tour’s recent deal with Saudi Arabia. This deal was announced in January and would have seen the Tour host a golf tournament in Saudi Arabia for the next 10 years.
Stephenson, who is a former PGA Tour player and current board member, released a statement saying that he had “serious reservations” about the deal and felt that it was not in line with the values of the PGA Tour. He went on to say that he could not support the decision and that he was resigning from his position on the board.
The PGA Tour responded to Stephenson’s resignation by saying that they respected his decision and thanked him for his service. They also said that they were committed to the deal with Saudi Arabia and that they believed it would be beneficial for golf in the region.
The news of Stephenson’s resignation comes at a time when many are questioning the PGA Tour’s decision to enter into a deal with Saudi Arabia. The country has a long history of human rights abuses and has been criticized for its treatment of women and minorities.
It remains to be seen if other board members will follow Stephenson’s lead and resign over this deal. However, it is clear that this is an issue that the PGA Tour will have to address in the coming months.
