The deal that could fundamentally reshape the world of professional golf had a simple beginning: PGA Tour board member Jimmy Dunne said he reached out to Yasir Al-Rumayyan, the governor of Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund, via WhatsApp.
“I thought it made sense to understand who he was and what he was trying to do, and what his view was for the game of golf,” Dunne told USA TODAY Sports in a phone interview Thursday morning. “And I went to meet him.”
Nearly two months later, that initial reachout culminated in a stunning announcement Tuesday from the PGA Tour and Saudi-funded LIV Golf. After more than a year of acrimony and a pricey legal fight, the two golfing entities agreed to join the Europe-based DP World Tour under a singular corporate umbrella, led by PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan but funded by the PIF, which is effectively the financial arm of the Saudi Arabian government.
The deal drew immediate backlash from PGA Tour players, many of whom remained loyal to the tour last year despite receiving lucrative overtures from LIV. And it’s been heavily criticized by human rights activists and some members of Congress, who view the PIF’s involvement as a clear example of “sportswashing” − an attempt by the Saudis to use sports to polish their international reputation and draw attention away from their human rights abuses.
Dunne, the vice chairman and senior managing principal at investment banking firm Piper Sandler, played a key role in the negotiations, along with PGA Tour board chairman Ed Herlihy.
Dunne is a familiar face in the game, someone who is a member at Augusta National and friendly with several tour pros. He was appointed to the PGA Tour’s policy board in November.
He said Thursday that he was cognizant of how the deal would be perceived, including by PGA Tour players, but his primary focus was “trying to do something that would benefit the game of golf.”
“I went on the board hoping that I could be part of a solution,” said Dunne, 66. “Everyone will have their own point of view. I’m confident that what we came up with is the best long-term for the game. It’s true. That’s it. I’m not trying to get more shares of this company. … I’m not trying to make anybody look bad or good. I’m just dealing with the facts, as we have them. And I’m trying to find a way that we can go forward, positively.”
The fact that Dunne made the initial reachout to the PIF came as a surprise to many,…
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