When you come to think of it that is the secret of most of the great holes all over the world. They all have some kind of a twist. C.B. MACDONALD
LIVlier Than Most! Recapping A Wacky Day In Golf
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Mickelson, Norman, Johnson, Nicklaus and Tiger make news.
The news of Tiger’s U.S. Open WD got a special midday edition of The Quadrilateral.
Soul Machine! Watch Jack's Final "Content" For Nicklaus Companies
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When Jack Nicklaus resigned last month from the Nicklaus Companies we assumed it was over an oldmanspat with Howard Milstein. A lawsuit since means the two will be going at it for a while in legal proceedings. But they bonded over the metaverse one last time!
We now get to see the final contribution of Nicklaus to the Nicklaus Companies and 8 a.m. family of brands before saying sayonara.
SOUL MACHINES ANNOUNCES NEW ENTERTAINMENT DIVISION
June 7, 2022
Partners with Nicklaus Companies to launch the inaugural Digital Twin of Jack Nicklaus to engage with fans and brands to bring interactive sporting and entertainment experiences online
SAN FRANCISCO, CA. – June 7, 2022 – Soul Machines, the groundbreaking company pioneering the creation of autonomously animated Digital People in the metaverse and the digital worlds of today, announced today the launch of a new Entertainment division with the goal of creating unique and highly personalized experiences redefining fan engagement and entertainment enterprise.
Bingo board full after one graph!
On the heels of a recent US$70 million Series B1 round (led by new investor SoftBank Vision Fund 2), this new business division will launch its inaugural Digital Person – an avatar of legendary American professional golfer Jack Nicklaus through a partnership with the Nicklaus Companies.
With this launch, Soul Machines continues its quest to redefine the future of digital entertainment with hyper-realistic Digital Twins of real-life celebrities, professional athletes, entertainers, and public figures. Avatars, like ‘Digital Jack’ — which depicts Nicklaus at age 38, the height of his playing career — are autonomously animated using AI and natural language processing to depict their real-life counterparts in digital spaces. ‘Digital Jack’ has the ability to provide a range of user experiences by answering questions from fans and providing insight based on more than 60 years of memories. Digital Twins also offers exciting opportunities for companies to incorporate these avatars as digital brand ambassadors, elevating the future of Brand Experience.
Future content will have Digital Jack declaring his love and admiration for all things Howard Milstein!
“Our hope is to enrich the entertainment space with our humanized AI platform. Because Digital People are constantly learning, they present uncapped potential to interact with fans through empathetic and personalized experiences across cultures, languages, and geographic regions 24/7,” Cross added. “As a result, we have observed an increase in brand loyalty and customer engagement when digital avatars enable entertainers to broaden their reach.”
“I have always valued the ability to connect with golfers through golf course design and my writings. By teaming up with the innovative team at Soul Machines to create my Digital Twin, I now have the ability to share my passion, stories, and philosophies for the sport with generations to come, and am excited to be a part of this new and thrilling frontier,” said Jack Nicklaus.
And now a word from the man suing Jack.
“Quality is the foundation upon which Jack’s legacy is built,” said Howard Milstein, Executive Chairman of the Nicklaus Companies. “Just as Jack is the gold standard against which the golf world is measured, our goal in this effort is to create the industry standard avatar that advances this new frontier of artificial intelligence and the metaverse. In addition to the exciting technology, this new collaboration is another step in the institutionalization of the Jack Nicklaus brand, which was a goal he had many years ago,” Milstein added. “Jack wanted to ensure his company would live on, and—as with everything he’s done in his illustrious career—he’s succeeding beyond all expectations.”
For your sake, hopefully not in court!
Soul Machines’ new Entertainment division will be headquartered in Los Angeles; ‘Digital Jack’ is the newest addition to the company’s already impressive celebrity roster which includes NBA All-Star and entrepreneur Carmelo Anthony, launching later this summer at Collision, and music sensation will.i.am. Upcoming Digital People in the new Entertainment division include Hollywood icon Marilyn Monroe, in partnership with Authentic Brands Group (ABG), owner of the Marilyn Monroe Estate, and K Pop superstar Mark Tuan of Got7. More on these partnerships will be announced at a later date.
Can’t…wait.
Norman On Nicklaus: “One hundred percent truth? Jack’s a hypocrite."
/The Washington Post’s Kent Babb profiled Greg Norman on the eve of LIV Golf’s first event and shared several eye-opening anecdotes. Including how he’s “cut off his longtime mentor” according to Babb’s description.
“One hundred percent truth? Jack’s a hypocrite,” he says. “When he came out with those comments, I’m thinking: Jack must have a short memory.” He says Nicklaus attended a LIV presentation and later wrote in an email that the new tour had his blessing.
“Quote-unquote, he said: ‘This is good for our game. If it’s good for the game of golf, it’s good by me,’ ” Norman says. “So, you want the facts? You’ve got the facts. Know what you said before you open your mouth.”
A spokesman for Nicklaus, who’s being sued by his own company partly because of his negotiations with the Saudis, declined to make him available for an interview but sent a statement reiterating Nicklaus’s “unwavering support” for the PGA Tour and wishing Norman well.
I think their mutual friend, hero and favorite President Donald Trump should bring these two back together! The Palm Beach Peace Accords! Jared can package it so everyone profits.
Norman on critics and players who’ve signed up:
“It doesn’t bother me,” he says. “I’m not going to back off. I’m not going to show weakness to my team. I’m not going to show weakness to monopolists. I’m going to stand up for the rights of the players.”
He pauses before continuing. “The players who decide to come on board, God bless them,” he says. “They’re going to make a lot of money.”
Norman recently went to say goodbye to his dying father and, well…
Three weeks before this year’s Masters, Norman traveled to Brisbane. The time had come to say goodbye. He walked in for the first time in four years and saw Merv in a chair he rarely leaves, where he sleeps 17 hours a day, the once-muscular man who had raised and taught and scarred him now frail at 135 pounds.
He won’t let Norman pay for a nurse, won’t sit in a wheelchair. Imagine being that stubborn, Norman says. Merv faded in and out, and Norman spoke fast as he tried to explain this thing he’s building. It’s big, he said, though Tiger and Phil and Jack, of all people … But Merv couldn’t hear him. He’d fallen asleep.
Norman talking about LIV Golf will do that to a lot of people.
Seems his sister and mother aren’t enjoying this much, either.
When Norman was in Brisbane this spring, his mother and sister tried probing him. Toini was alarmed by some of what her son was saying, in particular that Nicklaus had flipped on him. Janis said she recently stopped reading about LIV and her brother in the Australian press because, she says, they’re “crucifying” him.
“I know he doesn’t always care,” Janis says. “But we do.” “We don’t want his reputation to be ruined completely,” Toini says. “He’s always been looked up to, and now …”
Norman’s 91-year-old mother pauses.
“We don’t know,” she says. “He’s certainly becoming more and more like Dad,” Janis says. “When he gets an idea,” Toini says, “then he will just — he won’t give up on anything.”
Nicklaus On Saudi Meeting: “I did it out of courtesy to them because we're doing a golf course for them."
/Jack Nicklaus offered a perfectly reasonable counter to Howard Milstein’s claim. Now we’ll have to see what the response is from the Nicklaus Companies head suing the company namesake.
From Bob Harig’s story at Morning Read:
“They obviously called me,’’ Nicklaus said. “And we’ve had a contract on a golf course in Saudi Arabia for over a couple of years. Essentially the same group.
“So when they called Jackie — my son Jackie organized the meeting, and they came into the Bear's Club (in Florida). We met a couple of guys. John Rees and Paul Stringer from the Nicklaus companies were there because we were doing the golf course, and they proposed this thing to me.
“I did it out of courtesy to them because we're doing a golf course for them. I've got zero interest in wanting to do something like that. I don't care what kind of money they would have thrown at me. My allegiance has been to the PGA Tour. I grew up on the PGA TOUR. I helped found the PGA Tour as it is today. My allegiance is there and it’s going to stay there.’’
In an interview with Michael Bamberger, Nicklaus claimed the offer was in excess of $100 million.
It remains a curious situation given how Nicklaus and Milstein both have no qualms about doing business with Saudi Arabia, but see a line crossing when it comes to supporting a rival golf tour.
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:
Nicklaus Does Not Want To "See 40 guys break away from the PGA Tour at the whim of an advertising agency in Saudi Arabia"
/“(The PGA Tour’s) brought millions and millions of dollars to communities, it’s brought great competition, great television,” Nicklaus said. “Why would I not support that? Instead, I’m going to go support for my own benefit, see 40 guys break away from the PGA Tour at the whim of an advertising agency in Saudi Arabia? What happens to the other guys?
“I just don’t like it. I don’t think it’s right.”
Last year, Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman announced Nicklaus as the architect of a course in Saudi Arabia.
It’s not clear who the advertising agency is.
Five Clubs Pod With Jack Nicklaus Discussing Governing Bodies On Distance: “I don’t really know what they’re doing”
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Gary Williams discusses the past, present, and future of the game with 18-time major champion Jack Nicklaus as his 82nd birthday nears.
As most know, Nicklaus has been on top of this topic for around fifty years and some of his comments in the podcast suggest he’s exasperated at the state of affair, especially with the upcoming 20th anniversary of the “joint statement of principles” on distance. He also discusses the water issue and the disparity now between the professional and amateur thanks to equipment best suited for high swing speeds.
Nicklaus tells Williams the USGA said they were going to get the issue addressed two years ago, then COVID paused the process and again more recently, “nothing happened.” He concluded, “I don’t really know what they’re doing” and ultimately asked, “How long is going to take them to 'research’ the issue?”
We do know the current comment period ends this May, with a likely hint of some plans to do something. So in that sense there is some optimism a stand will be taken, though far too late.
The distance talk starts around the 15:00 mark:
Today In Strategic Alliance News: Jack To Facillitate The Next Phase Of Gary's Career
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Our deepest sympathies to Josh Sens for having to take out the 8 a.m. Golf news litterings with this “strategic alliance” “news” of 86-year-old Gary Player joining with Jack Nicklaus’s firm for design resource assistance.
Essentially the Nicklaus plan factory will churn out whatever stuff Player is paid slap his name to. Sens writes:
Under the arrangement, Player will enlist the resources of Nicklaus Design to help him launch his reborn Gary Player Design business. (Nicklaus Design is an affiliate of GOLF.com’s parent company, 8AM Golf.) That business has been largely inactive over the past two years, held up by a legal dispute between Player and a company run by one of his sons.
Family.
With that dispute now behind him, Player said he was eager to get back to designing and building courses around the world, and that the relationship with Nicklaus Design would be key as his own design company starts afresh.
“When I get a course to do, it will be great to have Jack’s people be part of the design,” Player said. “They’ve had so much experience with top courses around the world.”
In a statement that accompanied the announcement, Nicklaus said that the arrangement meshed with his own goal of providing “the expertise and resources needed to develop and support the people who will design the courses of the future.”
In this case, Nicklaus added, he and his colleagues were “happy to be in the position to facilitate the next phase of my dear friend Gary’s career.”
Sportico Estimates Highest Paid Athletes Of All Time: Tiger, Arnold, Jack In The Top 4
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Based on inflation adjusted earnings and some guestimating about endorsement income, Tiger Woods, Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicklaus landed in the top 4 of Sportico’s list of highest paid athletes of all time.
Phil Mickelson landed 11th and Greg Norman 15th. Not bad for a niche sport.
Nicklaus: “I never got any blowback, and I’m sure I had a ton of it"
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If you’ve read any replies to a Jack Nicklaus social media post since his endorsement of Donald Trump and predictions of a “socialist America”, the tone of that endorsement continues to fill up his timeline nine months later.
Well if you wondered if his righthand man Scott Tolley ever is asked to read his “replies”, the answer is a big no.
From Leonard Shapiro writing for the Washington Post on various Nicklaus-related topics, starting with the feedback he’s not gotten.
“This is not a personality contest; it’s about patriotism,” Nicklaus tweeted. “His love for America and its citizens, and putting his country first, has come through loud and clear.
Nicklaus said Monday he paid no attention to the torrent of criticism that followed.
“I never got any blowback, and I’m sure I had a ton of it,” he said. “But I don’t pay attention to that stuff. I didn’t see any of it.”
Nicklaus said he wrote the tweet after Vice President Mike Pence called him shortly before the election and said Trump thought it would be too awkward to personally ask Nicklaus himself.
Ahhhh, such a modest man is The Donald!
Nicklaus also made clear the endorsement was a thank you for a bill provision.
Nicklaus said Trump and Mark Meadows, Trump’s chief of staff, had helped get a provision included in the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act (also known as the Cares Act) that provided funds for free-standing children’s hospitals that initially were not included in the bill.
“He went to bat for us,” said Nicklaus, whose foundation has raised close to $200 million for children’s facilities since 2004. “There were 28 free-standing children’s hospitals, and they got $50 million apiece. They were losing money during covid, and it really helped. … I couldn’t help but support the guy.”
Unfortunately, those hospitals became busy places over the last month.
Come For A Vaccination, Stay For The Memorial Tournament Presented By Nationwide
/The Memorial Tournament steps up with an impressive opportunity for attendees of this year’s tournament. Maybe they’ll even get some players to join in the battle against COVID! Microchips sold separately:
the Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide and OhioHealth partner to offer COVID-19 vaccinations
Johnson & Johnson’s Janssen vaccines will be available to patrons attending the 2021 Memorial Tournament on June 4, 5 and 6
Dublin, Ohio – The Memorial Tournament presented by Nationwide, in partnership with OhioHealth, announced today they will host on-site COVID-19 vaccination opportunities for patrons attending the 46th playing of the Memorial.
The Memorial Tournament’s on-site vaccination location will be conveniently located near the Tournament’s main entrance, adjacent to the Information Tent on the west side of the Practice Area. The vaccination station will be staffed by OhioHealth and offer Johnson & Johnson Janssen vaccines to Memorial patrons from Friday, June 4 to Sunday, June 6, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
“The Memorial is excited to welcome back fans to this year’s Tournament and happy to partner with OhioHealth to offer those individuals the opportunity to get vaccinated,” said Memorial Tournament Executive Director Dan Sullivan. “This is a perfect way to enjoy the world’s best golfers, and all that the Memorial Tournament has to offer, while also helping more Ohioans get vaccinated.”
Any patron who chooses to take advantage of the onsite COVID-19 vaccination opportunity must complete an OhioHealth health questionnaire, provided during their visit, and will automatically be enrolled as an OhioHealth patient.
“OhioHealth has been a leader in the COVID-19 vaccination activation, administering more than 210,000 vaccines,” Dr. David Lee, vice president, OhioHealth Employer Services said. “This opportunity to help vaccinate patrons at the Memorial Tournament is a tremendous honor, and one our teams are looking forward to participating in. The COVID-19 vaccine is the key in safely getting back to enjoying amazing events like the Memorial Tournament, and we are excited to continue our mission of improving the health of those we serve in a unique way, at such a wonderful, iconic setting. We’d like to thank the Memorial Tournament for being such a valued partner, and for the ability to do this work for our communities.”
With Crown Prince Responsible For Khashoggi Killing, Where Does That Leave Golf Saudi And The Public Investment Fund?
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In the worst kept secret on earth, a declassified U.S. intelligence report holds Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman responsible for the murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
While the Biden administration is thus far not directing penalizing the Crown Prince, the New York Times Julian E. Barnes and David E. Sanger write that “the release of the report signaled that President Biden, unlike his predecessor, would not set aside the killing of Mr. Khashoggi and that his administration intended to try to isolate the crown prince.”
The isolation effect could have an impact on the Crown Prince’s Golf Saudi and the Public Investment Fund under his control (also said to be a primary backer of the proposed Premier Golf League among many investments).
Golf.com’s Michael Arkush recently summed up Golf Saudi’s hopes in a story prompted by the recent announcement of a Jack Nicklaus design in Saudi Arabia, a company that part of Golf.com’s parent company 8 a.m. Golf.
The golf push is part of a larger “Vision 2030” strategy, championed by Saudi Arabia’s de facto ruler, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman; that initiative is aimed, in part, at bolstering the kingdom’s entertainment and tourism offerings as the nation simultaneously implements social reform.
On the golf front, thinking big means bringing in established designers.
“Every single golf course we are going to build from now on is going to have to be a branded name,” Majed Al Sorour, the CEO of Golf Saudi and the Saudi Golf Federation, said in an interview. “All of the great designers are going to be part of the development in the kingdom.”
So far, the list includes two legendary major winners in Jack Nicklaus and Greg Norman.
Golf Saudi also hosts an annual European Tour stop said to be the vision of bin Salman.
As for the Public Investment Fund with tentacles in several major American companies and the proposed Premier Golf League, it could be vulnerable because of direct ties to the crime.
From CNBC’s Emily DeCiccio report:
The Saudi sovereign wealth fund, known as the Public Investment Fund, is chaired by MBS. It appears to have played a role in purchasing the aircraft that ferried Khashoggi’s killers to Turkey, where the murder occurred.
“If this is the case, it could become a target for American human rights sanctions,” according to Joel Rubin, a former deputy assistant secretary of State. That could, in turn, “create an economic earthquake,” he said.
“If the United States determines that the Khashoggi killing was a targeted human rights violation, then the perpetrators and backers of that killing could be sanctioned under the Magnitsky Act,” Rubin said.
The Global Magnitsky Human Rights Accountability Act authorizes the president to impose economic sanctions, freeze any U.S. assets, and deny entry into the U.S. to any foreign person who has engaged in human rights abuse or corruption, while prohibiting Americans from doing business with him or her. The Magnitsky Act has been used against Russian President Vladimir Putin’s cronies. Putin called it, “A purely political, unfriendly act.”
