Sir Nick Latches On To Tom Fazio In Increasingly Desperate Quest For Olympic Glory

I just wish I could be there the first time Sir Nick Faldo tries to talk design strategy with an associate of Tom Fazio (Lord knows the great man wouldn't leave the office!) and he gets a bunch of nonsense about framing and the "so-called Golden Age architects" like MacKenzie and Tillinghast.

But alas, the chances of an actual Nick Faldo-Tom Fazio (or 18 major champions and Tom Fazio, with egos coordinated by the egos of all egos) stands little chance since the Olympic Committee only has so much money to spend, an environmentally sensitive sight and a desire to build a model for the future. Elements that do not exactly scream, Tom Fazio.

Still, Tim Rosaforte reports that the two have joined forces in an Olympic course design bid.

Tom Fazio listened to Faldo's pitch on Thursday night and agreed to join Sir Nick in his bid to the International Golf Federation. "The Olympics are so special and this could be the ultimate one-off," Faldo said Friday from Atlanta Athletic Club. "Tom's a great architect and I think I've got him juiced."

They must have been talking dollars and cents. Because Faldo's idea of 18 major winners has the endorsement of the man whose horrid work at Augusta National he's openly ripped.  God I love the people in golf!

Norman initially criticized Faldo's plan, saying it was a "logistical nightmare," but Fazio thinks it can work.

He also thought planting trees all over Augusta was a swell idea, as they take out them out one by one all the while asking Chairman Johnson how the heart is holding up.

"It all sounds good in one sense, but my first question was how do you coordinate the personalities and the people. It almost sounds like its not doable. But he said, 'I think if I had you in it, we could solve that problem and you'd be the guy. You have the reputation of being able to work with people.'''

Yes, especially if they have a big fat checkbook and are willing to let him redo his own work after ten years when everyone is bored with it.

Fazio does most of his work in the United States but has a course under construction in Sao Paulo that is being overseen by his son, Logan. Faldo assured Fazio that he would handle the egos and had conversations at the PGA with Votaw and Ernie Els, who said he would be on board.

Oh wow, I was worried we wouldn't get Ernie's input. Because Wentworth has been such a hit!

Having fun yet, Ty?