Golf legend Jack Nicklaus scored a significant victory in a New York court, where a judge ruled that he was free to use his name, image, and likeness (NIL). The ruling comes after Nicklaus Companies, founded by businessman Howard Milstein, claimed that Nicklaus had breached contractual obligations by licensing his IP to golf tournaments and rejecting the use of his NIL in a potential video game.

However, Judge Joel Cohen found that Nicklaus had never contractually granted exclusive licensing authority for his NIL, and therefore Nicklaus Companies had no right to prohibit him from using his name and image. This was a significant victory for Nicklaus, who had sold his company GBI to Milstein in 2007, but apparently maintained control over his NIL.

But have you ever wondered how Jack Nicklaus and Howard Milstein’s partnership began? Let’s take a step back and explore the origins of their relationship.

It’s been 18 years since Jack Nicklaus handpicked Howard Milstein to help grow the Nicklaus business. At the time, Milstein was already a huge fan of Nicklaus and was drawn to the opportunity to build on a brand that was synonymous with excellence, integrity, and high standards. The partnership was a natural fit, with Nicklaus himself saying, “If you want to have a successful business, partner with Howard Milstein.” As the Executive Chairman of the Nicklaus Companies, Milstein has been instrumental in driving the company’s growth and success.