Jack Nicklaus Confronts Ex-Partner Howard Milstein in Court as Decades-Old Feud Reaches Boiling Point

For Nicklaus, these allegations are only the latest twist in a partnership gone sour. Tracing its roots to 2007, the golfer inarguably dug his own grave when he agreed to merge his Golden Bear International with the newly formed Nicklaus Companies. Howard Milstein was the messiah who entered the scene ready to finance the $145 million deal through his Emigrant Bank, New York’s oldest. Who knew this was a move Jack Nicklaus would come to regret all his life? When the dynamics changed between Jack Nicklaus and Howard The partnership quickly became lopsided. Initially, a 51 to 49 percent share (the golfer taking the larger one), things took a turn when Andrew O’Brien was installed as the president by Milstein. Publicly, the duo called themselves Nicklaus’s partners, even crediting Milstein for saving and doubling the company’s value. The dynamics of the business changed, as the legendary golfer with 18 major wins to his name found his role being reduced to what he once called a “disrespected employee.” With several blows to his reputation, Nicklaus finally left the company in 2017. Milstein and co. could not bear such an ouster, and they triggered a five-year noncompete clause that barred Nicklaus from designing golf courses or endorsing the products outside the company. What was worse was that they held all the rights to Nicklaus’s name, image, and likeness. As Nicklaus eventually sought the legal clarity to retain his name in 2022, Nicklaus Companies, the same year, sued the golfer in New York, alleging that he breached his agreements and pursued a leadership role with LIV Golf—a claim that was later dropped. As per reports, Nicklaus had indeed met with representatives from Golf Saudi. But that was mainly for discussing potential golf course designs, rather than him assuming any leadership role. Initially, there were also reports, which Nicklaus admitted himself, that he was offered $100 million for a “job probably similar to the one Greg [Norman] is doing.” But he rejected the offer twice without hesitation. “I turned it down. Once verbally, once in writing…I said, ‘Guys, I have to stay with the PGA Tour. I helped start the PGA Tour.'” Still, the ripple effect of the accusation was major. Nicklaus’ lawyers claimed it caused the golfer “global reputational damage.” Meanwhile, Milstein’s team denied all these allegations, arguing the lawsuit was “one of the deadest times in terms of trying to get publicity.” “The company really was trying to get through a messy situation without engendering much publicity,” Gary Malone said. As the trial unfolds, several long-buried truths are set to come to light. At an age when most people enjoy peace and retirement, one decision Jack Nicklaus made decades ago has become a hurdle in his later life.