Saudi link has Nicklaus in hazardous spot

JACK Nicklaus had to be ‘saved from himself’ as he tried to negotiate a personal deal with Saudi golf chiefs, according to a lawsuit filed by his own company.

The 18-times major winner recently said that he was offered in excess of $100 million to be the frontman for the Saudi-backed breakaway tour He said that he turned it down verbally and in writing.

However, a complaint from Nicklaus Companies against Nicklaus and GBI Investors, filed on May 13 in the Supreme Court of New York, accuses the golf star of not meeting the terms of a $145 million exclusivity agreement struck in 2007. The suit alleges “a pattern of conduct to divert commercial opportunities for his own personal financial benefit” instead of the company.

The lawsuit alleges that Nicklaus was involved in scheduling a meeting with the chairman and chief executive of Golf Saudi “to promote a new golf league backed by Golf Saudi which would have been a direct rival to the PGA Tour.”

It also claims that a deal would have been improper without the company being informed.

It states: “Fortunately for Nicklaus Companies - and Mr Nicklaus - the Company was eventually able to convince Mr Nicklaus to stop exploring a deal for the endorsement of the Saudi-backed league. The company essentially saved Mr Nicklaus from himself.”

Nicklaus issued a statement to Sports Illustrated, saying: “The claims made by Howard Milstein (the executive chairman of Nicklaus Companies) are untrue.’’