Justin Time: Thomas Wins The PGA At Southern Hills

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Nicklaus Sued By Nicklaus Companies, Alleged To Have Pursued Saudi Payday

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The love-hate relationship between Jack Nicklaus and Howard Milstein has reached full ugliness. Morning Read’s Alex Miceli dropped a bombshell during third round play of the PGA: Nicklaus Companies, owned by Milstein, is suing Jack Nicklaus for breach of contract, tortious interference and breach of fiduciary duty. The complaint was filed eight days ago in New York.

Milstein is also the owner of Golf Magazine/Golf.com/8 a.m. ventures in addition to the Nicklaus Companies.

The most alarming allegation: Milstein alleges Nicklaus had to be talked out of taking a brand-killing Saudi payday. This is rich since Milstein’s Golf has featured some suspicious Saudi spon-con style praise and a glowing rollout for a Nicklaus design there.

But the suit also comes just days after Nicklaus told Michael Bamberger that he turned down an offer to take the job now occupied by Greg Norman.

Nicklaus said. “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.’”

Was Nicklaus trying to get his side out before the suit hit? Or is Milstein just trying to distance himself from the Saudi’s after his operation flirted with the Kingdom for a little apparent sponcon?

Screen captures from the suit, courtesy of NLU’s Big Randy:

PGA Friday: Zalatoris Takes The Historically Important 36-Hole Lead

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Phil's In Meetings But His Mom And Barkley Give An Update

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USA Today’s Josh Peter went to San Diego to find Phil and while he was told Mickelson was in meetings by a “property manager,” his mother Mary and friend Charles Barkley spoke.

His new appearance has allowed for Mickelson to go out and attend his niece and nephew’s games…from an adjoining field.

“I wish you could see him now,’’ Mary Mickelson said. “He’s relaxed, he laughs all the time. He’s not on the phone with people that are calling him for this and that, and please play in this tournament, and it’s hard when you have to say no, when you don’t have the time to spend. But he has taken a lot of time with our family.”

And this from Charles Barkley:

“I talked to Phil and I told him, ‘Hey, man, how long are you going to hide out? It’s time for you to come out,’ ’’ Barkley said. “Phil is my friend and always will be my friend. That does not mean he did not screw up. But the notion that he’s got to stay in his house for the rest of his life is just (expletive).”

Tiger On Legacy Golf, Where He Disagrees With Phil And Players Who Want Guaranteed Money

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Tiger Woods gave his most detailed set of comments to date on the PGA Tour v. LIV Golf and Phil Mickelson.

I have little to add other than the question and context.

On Mickelson not being at Southern Hills to defend his PGA Championship victory:

It's always disappointing when the defending champion not here. Phil has said some things that I think a lot of us who are committed to the Tour and committed to the legacy of the TOUR have pushed back against, and he's taken some personal time, and we all understand that. But I think that some of his views on how the Tour could be run, should be run, been a lot of disagreement there. But as we all know, as a professional, we miss him being out here. I mean, he's a big draw for the game of golf. He's just taking his time and we all wish him the best when he comes back. Obviously we're going to have difference of opinions, how he sees the Tour, and we'll go from there.

On Phil’s position:

“I don't know if he has to resolve it or not. You know, he has his opinion on where he sees the game of golf going. You know, I have my viewpoint how I see the game of golf, and I've supported the TOUR and my foundation has run events on the TOUR for a number of years.

“I just think that what Jack and Arnold have done in starting the TOUR and breaking away from the PGA of America and creating our tour in '68 or '69, somewhere in there, I just think there's a legacy to that. I've been playing out here for a couple of years over decades, and I think there's a legacy do it. I still think that the TOUR has so much to offer, so much opportunity.

“I believe in legacies. I believe in major championships. I believe in big events, comparisons to historical figures of the past. There's plenty of money out here. The Tour is growing. But it's just like any other sport. It's like tennis. You have to go out there and earn it. You've got to go out there and play for it. We have opportunity to go ahead and do it. It's just not guaranteed up front.”

He played this with a straight face but you have to think he was enjoying this question about rights fees, events and Mickelson’s brief and pitiful role as a tournament “host” in the old Bob Hope, now the American Express.

”I can't speak for him not knowing and understanding that. I'm sure he probably does have an
understanding of that because he was the host of the old Bob Hope. So since he was the host of the event, I'm sure he probably understands it, and plus, he hosts the event up there in Napa Valley. He understands it, and there is -- there is a rights fee to having events and understanding it. And we negotiate with the Tour and whether it's one-off day events like we have with matches under the lights like I used to do back in the old days, or it's regular Tour events, each tournament is different. Obviously there is right fees that have to be paid, and we understand that. Obviously we go in there as events and try and negotiate that down as low as possible, and try and make as much money as we can for the local events.”

And on whether he’s reached out to Phil:

”I have not reached out to him. I have not spoken to him. A lot of it has not to do with I think personal issues. It was our viewpoints of how the Tour should be run and could be run, and what players are playing for and how we are playing for it. I have a completely different stance on, and so no, I have not.”

Rickie Sure Seems To Be Leaning Toward A LIV Future

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While the World No. 146 ranking would suggest he’s not exactly dream LIV Golf material, Rickie Fowler likability and assumed devotion to all things PGA Tour may provide an intriguing turn in the effort of Saudi Arabia to make us forget about gas prices, human rights violations and sword-wielding men lopping heads off in public after sham trials.

As Bob Harig at SI.com says in the understatment of the week, Fowler would be a “great get” for Greg Norman’s upstart Tour despite the fall off in Fowler’s game. He’s the first legit fan favorite in some time to suggest he’d like to cash him some Crown Prince cash.

His full answer Monday at Tulsa where he’s playing the PGA Championship on an exemption thanks to 2021’s T8 finish.

Q. Have you been approached at all by the LIV Tour and if so, what's your stance on that?

RICKIE FOWLER: Yeah, I have. To be straightforward with you guys, I haven't necessarily made a decision one

way or the other. I've mentioned in the past, do I currently think that the PGA Tour is the best place to play? I do. Do I think it can be better? Yes. So I think it's an interesting position. Obviously there's the LIV and Premiere, as well. These tours or leagues or whatever -- however you want to classify or call them, they

wouldn't really be coming up if they didn't see that there was more opportunity out there. I've always looked at competition being a good thing. It's the driving force of our game. You know, being able to have games with guys at

home, that's how I always grew up is competing. I think competition ultimately makes people better, whether it's business, sport. So it's interesting, that's for sure.

Nicklaus On PGA Championship Move From Trump Bedminster: "This move is cancel culture."

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Actually Jack, it was just business.

In his debut piece for The Fire Pit Collective, Michael Bamberger reviews the PGA of America decision to abandon Trump Bedminster for Southern Hills following the January 6th insurrection. The piece also weaves in Phil Mickelson’s absence this week and Jack Nicklaus’ claim he was offered $100 million by Saudi Arabia to handle the role currently occupied by Greg Norman attempting to overthrow the PGA Tour.

Besides getting PGA of America CEO Seth Waugh’s side of how the change occurred—and the lucrative and safe landing spot provided by Tulsa and Southern Hills—Bamberger interviewed Nicklaus about the move.

“I like Seth Waugh,” Nicklaus said. “Seth didn’t need this job. He took the job because he thought he could give the PGA of America some good guidance. And I think he’s doing that. But this move is cancel culture. Donald Trump may be a lot of things, but he loves golf and he loves this country. He’s a student of the game and a formidable figure in the game. What he does in the future in golf will depend on what the cancel culture will allow him to do.”

Just so you have it, here’s the first sentence from the Wikipedia entry for cancel culture: “Cancel culture or call-out culture is a contemporary phrase used to refer to a form of ostracism in which someone is thrust out of social or professional circles — whether it be online, on social media or in person.”

Some would say Trump tried to cancel the result of the 2020 election, setting in motion the wheels that ultimately moved the 2022 PGA Championship from Bedminster to Tulsa. Some would dismiss that idea. These are polarizing times.

Outside of Nicklaus, there has not been a single protest or sign that anyone with influence is questioning the move, nor have the fans or corporate dollars that make these things go shown any sign of agreeing with the “cancel culture” claim.