JACK NICKLAUS won $50million [£38m] in a lawsuit against rivals who questioned his mental state.
Arguably the greatest golfer of all time won a record 18 majors between 1962 and 1986.
But he will pocket more than five times his career earnings after the defamation case went his way in court.
Six-time Masters champ Nicklaus, 85, brought the case against his former business partners at Nicklaus Companies, including owner and executive chairman Howard Milstein and executive Andrew O’Brien.
The golfing icon claimed they fabricated stories that he considered a $750m [£563m] deal to join the Saudi-funded LIV Golf breakaway league – despite his loyal commitment to the PGA Tour.
He also sued for them suggesting he was suffering from dementia and mentally unable to manage his affairs.
Nicklaus Companies tried to lodge a suit against the Golden Bear, who resigned in 2017, in 2022 for an alleged breach of contract regarding course design rights and marketing.
Earlier this year, a New York judge ruled Nicklaus is free to use his own name and image and design courses – but his old business retained the rights to sell branded goods under the Jack Nicklaus logo.
However, the countersuit by Nicklaus to comments made by Nicklaus Companies was successful.
Court documents said: “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 favour of a new league, he did not want to be involved.”
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And on Monday, a six-person jury in Palm Beach, Florida found in favour of Nicklaus.
They concluded that Nicklaus Companies had damaged his reputation and exposed him to “ridicule, hatred, mistrust, distrust or contempt”.
Milstein and O’Brien were not found to be personally liable by the jury while Nicklaus Companies’ lawyers insisted the firm had not deliberately defamed Nicklaus.
Nicklaus did not give a comment outside the court as he hugged friends and family.
But his legal representative Eugene Stearns said: “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.
“But I think what was important was the dispute that arose three-and-a-half years ago when the company told the world that Jack was selling out the PGA Tour for the Saudi golf, when it was not true. So, we’re happy that Jack’s been vindicated.
“What they wanted to create in the minds of the public is Jack Nicklaus is an old guy who sold out to the Saudis.
“He deserved better than what he got, and we’re pleased that the jury addressed the particular circumstances that were so annoying.
“Jack’s reputation has now been restored.”
