Nicklaus: Joint Olympic Design Bid Was Finchem's Idea

Here's what Jack Nicklaus said during Sunday's sitdown with Dan Hicks and Johnny Miller on NBC's Honda Classic telecast:

"Well Annika and I worked together to help golf awarded into the Olympics. When I was going to put a bid in and said I'd like to do the course, Tim Finchem suggested that Annika do it with us. I said sure, happy to do that. We're not doing this for us. We're not interested in remuneration or anything else. What we're interested in is that golf remains part of the Olympics."

Is Jack saying he's willing to do this for free?

In this week's SI/golf.com Confidential, Cameron Morfit brings up two names not yet mentioned in the Olympic design contest and wonders why the best in the business are not the obvious choice. His editor sets him straight: design quality is probably low on the list of priorities.

Morfit: Pinehurst No. 2 reopened last week following a year-long renovation by Ben Crenshaw and Bill Coore, with no rough and more strategic options, and supposedly a return to the original intent of Donald Ross. Are Crenshaw and Coore the best in the business, and should they be given the job of doing the course in Brazil for the 2016 Olympics?

Bamberger: The beauty of C&C is that they only want the job if the piece of land is good. They say no routinely.

Evans: The 2016 Olympics should be given to a Brazil architect or someone who has built courses in the country. I'm sure that won't happen, but the decision shouldn't come exclusively from people at the PGA Tour.

Spearman: It should go to Nicklaus and Annika. Having said that, Coore and Crenshaw are the best.v Herre: Golf architecture is so subjective. Crenshaw-Coore have designed some fine courses, but so has Tom Doak, among others. And, frankly, the actual design work will probably be only part of the hiring criteria.

Van Sickle: Golf course architecture is in the eye of the beholder, and all golfers, including me, are sure we're design experts. Never played a Crenshaw/Coore course I didn't like. Not sure who should design the Olympic course. Not sure I even care.