For a man who’s conquered Augusta six times and lifted 18 major trophies, you’d think there’s little left that could intimidate Jack Nicklaus. But after years in court trying to defend his name and reputation, Nicklaus shed light on the emotional toll that came with his $50M win.

On October 20, Nicklaus prevailed in a defamation suit against Nicklaus Companies, ending a tense and deeply personal battle over his right to control his own legacy. The legal battle, which began in 2023, stemmed from what Nicklaus called a painful and personal dispute over his reputation, as he accused two of his former business partners, Howard Milstein and Andrew O’Brien, of defamation and of attempting to tarnish his reputation.

“These were a lot tougher…. The golf was easy.” Nicklaus told Henrik Stenson during the ‘Conquer Cancer’ initiative recently held at PGA National in Palm Beach Gardens, when asked if this battle was tougher than winning his 18 major titles, and if he now has “21 major championships instead of 18”.

“I did this thing more for my family than for me,” Jack told The Palm Beach Post. “My legacy that I will have through the years will be very important to my family. I’m 85 years old…how long will I be around? I don’t know. It’s not about me. It’s about the future and family.”

“My NIL [name, image, license] is very important to me, it’s very important to my family,” Nicklaus said. “Sometimes you got to stand up for it and go through what you have to go through.” Jack Nicklaus even spoke of how he has been very blessed with the life he has had, making a name for himself, and it was “very important to protect that.” After the verdict, he described the feeling as “a big load off my shoulders.”

Nicklaus’s lawsuit centered on allegations that Milstein and O’Brien had spread false rumors about him, including claims that he was suffering from dementia and could no longer manage his affairs. They also allegedly suggested he was secretly negotiating a $750 million deal with the Saudi-backed LIV Golf League. Though neither of the two was found personally liable, the court ruled in Nicklaus’s favor, awarding him $50 million and, perhaps more importantly, his name back.

But even though he was awarded the big sum, the 18-time major champion suggested that the legal journey might not be entirely over.

Jack Nicklaus’s defamation battle is likely to continue

Despite securing a $50 million judgment in his favor, Jack Nicklaus knows his legal fight is far from over. The 85-year-old said he expects the case to remain active for some time, acknowledging that the appeals process could prolong the battle.

“The proceedings, the judge, the jury were great,” Nicklaus said. “I’m happy with the outcome. Obviously, there’s going to be probably appeals and that stuff. This will continue to go on for a while.”

Nicklaus’s attorney, Eugene Stearns, echoed that sentiment, telling ESPN that defamation cases are rarely straightforward, especially when it comes to proving damage to someone of Nicklaus’s stature. “It’s always hard in a defamation case to prove damages to reputation, because, in particular, for a guy like Jack, it’s always such a good one,” Stearns said.

The accusations against Nicklaus by Milstein & O’Brien that “Jack was selling out the PGA Tour for the Saudi golf” were untrue, as Stearns pointed out, so undoubtedly they were happy when Nicklaus was vindicated.

Court documents revealed that a Nicklaus Companies official had arranged for him to meet with Golf Saudi representatives in 2021 to discuss a potential course design. Jack Nicklaus owns the golf course design company Nicklaus Design and has designed over 430 golf courses worldwide.

During that meeting, Nicklaus learned they wanted him to take on a leadership role with LIV Golf, an offer he immediately declined, citing his loyalty to the PGA Tour. His attorneys argued that false claims about that encounter, along with damaging rumors about his cognitive abilities, were used to undermine his reputation.

Ultimately, the jury found that Nicklaus Companies actively participated in publishing false statements that exposed the 18-time major champion to “ridicule, hatred, mistrust, distrust or contempt.” Still, while most of the battle is won with Nicklaus now “free to engage in the activities once restricted by the contract’s covenants and to compete against the company that bears his name,” the Golden Bear’s legal journey is not done yet.