Attorney for golf legend Jack Nicklaus tears into Golden Bear's former partner

Jack Nicklaus's attorney has accused the Golden Bear's former business partner of attempting to "destroy his reputation" out of embarrassment over his decision to leave the company he founded. 

Nicklaus sued Howard Milstein and the Nicklaus Companies in 2022, claiming that his name, image and likeness were being being exploited. 

The 18-time major champion also alleged that business opportunities he wanted to pursue were being blocked. 

For his part, Milstein denied this was the case and launched a counter-claim, arguing the former golfer was in breach of contract. 

In April, the drawn-out legal process appeared to reach a conclusion when a trial judge in Manhattan ruled Nicklaus was free to continue using his own name, image and likeness. 

Judge Joel Cohen also confirmed that Nicklaus Companies, owned by Milstein, still owned the trademark of the company and can continue to do business such as selling clothing and equipment with the Nicklaus name and logos. 

Cohen's 35-page ruling also stated that Milstein's company can continue to design golf courses under the Nicklaus umbrella without the participation of the golfer. 

But Nicklaus can also continue design golf courses under his own NIL, Cohen wrote. 

Nicklaus was not content to end the matter there and launched a defamation case stemming from the original claims. 

Chief of which was that Nicklaus sought a role with LIV Golf but had to be "saved from himself". 

Court docs state:

"Nicklaus alleged that in 2021, a Company officer asked him to meet with representatives of Golf Saudi for the design of a Jack Nicklaus Signature golf course in Saudi Arabia. Golf Saudi was also developing a new golf league at the time, now known as LIV Golf. Nicklaus learned during the meeting that Golf Saudi wanted him to accept a leadership role with the new league. According to Nicklaus, he had no interest in the offer and declined because he felt the PGA Tour was an important part of his legacy, and if the PGA was not in favor of a new league, he did not want to be involved. He stated that the Company had no part in his decision to reject the offer and that the Company in fact commended him for rejecting this offer."

Nicklaus's attorney, Eugene Stearns, told Golfweek: "What Howard Milstein did, and what the company did, was take one of the most revered iconic figures in this world and try to destroy his reputation.

"Because Howard Milstein was embarrassed that he quit, didn't want him as a competitor and decided to basically slander him on the way out the door."

Stearns also told the publication that Milstein and his business partners planting false stories about his health, including the claim that Nicklaus has dementia. 

Attorneys for Milstein refute this claim. 

The defamation trial started on 29 September and is expected to last three weeks.