米ツアー幹部が辞任、ＬＩＶとの統合に「重大な懸念」　報道

【ワシントンＡＦＰ＝時事】男子ゴルフ米国ツアーの方針委員会のランドール・スティーブンソン氏が、サウジアラビアが後援するＬＩＶゴルフリーグとの事業統合に対する「重大な懸念」を理由に、同委員会を辞任したと９日付の米紙ワシントン・ポストが報じた。（写真は男子ゴルフ米国ツアーの方針委員会を辞任したランドール・スティーブンソン氏〈左〉）
　同紙は８日に即時有効となった辞任届のコピーを入手したと伝えた。それによると、米通信大手ＡＴ＆Ｔの元最高経営責任者（ＣＥＯ）で、２０１２年に委員会入りしたスティーブンソン氏は、ＬＩＶとの事業統合の枠組みは「特に２０１８年のジャマル・カショギ氏殺害に関する米国の報告に照らして考えた場合、客観的に評価できるものでも、良心的に支持できるものでもない」と述べた。
　ワシントン・ポストに記事も寄稿していたジャーナリストのカショギ氏の殺害については、サウジアラビアの工作員の関与が疑われている。それ以外にも、約１年前に始まり、過去最高の賞金を設定して米ツアーの有力選手を引き抜いたＬＩＶゴルフリーグでは、さまざまな人権問題が批判を集めている。
　スティーブンソン氏は６月には辞任するつもりだったが、ＰＧＡのジェイ・モナハンコミッショナーが健康状態を理由に業務から離れたことで、今月にずれ込んだという。ツアーはモナハン氏が１７日から職務に復帰すると発表。その前の１１日には、米ツアーとＬＩＶとの統合に関する米議会の公聴会に出席する予定となっている。
　方針委員会は、メジャー４勝のロリー・マキロイ（北アイルランド）、米国の有力選手パトリック・キャントレーら選手５人を含む１０人で構成され、統合が成立するには委員会の承認を得る必要がある。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2023/07/10-16:20）

Randall Stephenson, a former AT&T chief executive, reportedly has resigned his PGA Tour Policy Board position over serious concerns about the tour's controversial deal with LIV Golf's Saudi backers.
The Washington Post reported on Sunday that it had obtained a copy of his resignation letter dated Saturday with immediate effect.
The 10-member policy board must approve the deal announced last month by PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan and Saudi Public Investment Fund (PIF) governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan for it to be finalized.
In his letter, according to the report, Stephenson, a board member since 2012, said the framework agreement of the deal is 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.
Post journalist Khashoggi's death in 2018 was linked to Saudi agents and was among the human rights issues that have concerned critics of the Saudi-backed upstart golf series, which used record prize money deals to lure top PGA Tour players since its first event 13 months ago.
The merger deal came as a shock to most players after the PGA Tour had banned players who left for LIV from playing and Monahan had appealed to loyalty to keep some players from jumping.
Stephenson said he planned to resign last month but delayed the move after Monahan was taking leave to deal with unspecified medical issues.
The PGA Tour announced Friday that Monahan would return to his duties on July 17, after a planned Tuesday hearing by US lawmakers into the PGA-LIV deal where two PGA Tour officials will appear.
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 in the letter.
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.
The Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations will hear from Jimmy Dunne, a policy board member who helped negotiate terms of the deal, and Ron Price, the PGA Tour chief operating officer handling duties in Monahan's absence.
LIV Golf and the PGA Tour dropped lawsuits against each other that were set for May 2024 trials and could have revealed many financial details about the PIF and tour.
The deal created a for-profit entity to oversee commercial interests for the PGA Tour, LIV Golf and the DP World Tour.
Stephenson said he was concerned that the deal came to fruition without board oversight.
The Policy board includes five players, among them four-time major winner Rory McIlroy and US standout Patrick Cantlay.