Dunne, a member of the PGA Tour’s policy board, told USA TODAY Sports last month that he first contacted Al-Rumayyan via WhatsApp in April to explore a possible truce between the golf entities.
But the documents released Tuesday indicate that Dunne was courted himself months earlier by an intermediary: British businessman Roger Devlin.
“I am writing to you in the strictest confidence,” Devlin wrote to Dunne on Dec. 8, before making his case.
Devlin, who is the chairman of British housebuilding company Persimmon plc, wrote that he had been invited by Al-Rumayyan and Amanda Staveley to “help find a solution” to the PGA-LIV conflict. Staveley, a British businesswoman, helped orchestrate PIF’s purchase of English soccer team Newcastle United and remains a director at the club.
Dunne wrote back a few days later that he would prefer to get to know Devlin over coffee before discussing anything specific or business-related. He suggested they try to meet in the new year.
When Devlin followed up on Jan. 3, he told Dunne the Saudis were increasingly confident they could outlast the PGA Tour due to their financial resources. Dunne replied that he didn’t want to meet with Devlin “at this time.” Devlin then circled back in mid-April.
“As a dealmaker you will appreciate timing is everything,” he told Dunne. “I believe we have a window of opportunity to unify the game over the next couple of months, otherwise I fear the Saudis will doubledown (sic) on their investment and golf will be split asunder in perpetuity.”
It appears from the documents that Dunne did not reply to Devlin’s email, though he messaged Al-Rumayyan directly on WhatsApp four days later.
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