"I think this is a very functional partnership. I hope we can work a deal."

Don Corleone? Gordon Gekko? Uh, more like Jack Nicklaus and Annika Sorenstam pitching themselves to design the Olympic golf course, should the folks in Rio actually even decide to build a new course.

Doug Ferguson reports on the hard sell from Jack and Annika to the IGF:

Nicklaus said one potential site already has been identified. If selected, he said he and Sorenstam would collaborate on the strategy of each hole -- Nicklaus from championship tees for the men, Sorenstam with women in mind.

Boy, I'm giddy already at the possibilities. And just think, they could do it all on the computer screen in Florida!

"I'll be surprised if they don't select us," Nicklaus said. "But I'm sure other people are interested."

Oh the Don issues a strong hint!

If a golf course is to be built, the IGF would pick the architect, but the host committee in Rio would pick up the cost, much like building a stadium or arena for other sports.

Fay confirmed that IGF members -- representing all the major golf organizations -- received the Nicklaus-Sorenstam letter.

"It was a very nice letter," he said. "When you get a letter from two Hall of Famers, that will get a lot of attention. But there definitely will be a process to go through. Sometimes there's a feeling that you don't want to Americanize the process. We've been very respectful of the fact, as we should be, that it is an international game."

As I've said, the smuckering up, politicking and backdoor dealing to design the course will be far more entertaining than the Olympic competition itself. Then again, at 72-holes stroke play, that's not saying much.