The Greatest Of All Time's golf obsession

Michael Jordan's golf obssession continues after round with Keegan Bradley and Luke Donald.

6 Oct 1999: Sergio Garcia of Spain leads basketball legend Michael Jordan of the USA in a sprint down the 16th fairway whilst playing in the Pro-Am of the Alfred Dunhill Cup at the Old Course St Andrews, Fife, Scotland. Mandatory Credit: David Cannon/Allsport
(Image credit: Getty Images)

Michael Jordan's career has been defined by basketball, but his love of golf was there for all to see during his weekend with Keegan Bradley, Luke Donald and NFL star Tom Brady.

Michael Jordan's career in basketball and brief stint in baseball can be easily forgotten when he is caught prowling the golf course like he was last weekend.

The former Chicago Bulls player was always likely to be noticed playing golf with Keegan Bradley, Luke Donald and New England Patriot's quarterback Tom Brady in the Bahamas. The foursome also took to the court, with Bradley's Instagram post and a passerby's phone recording documenting the surreal turn of events.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LmWYB73Yr8U

It comes as no surprise, though, to see Jordan with club in hand given his less than subtle passion for the game. His regular appearances inside the ropes at the Ryder Cup haven't gone unnoticed.

Ian Poulter claimed that Jordan was trying to psych him out at Medinah in 2012, although given Poulter's performance it might be safe to assume mind games on the golf course are one thing Jordan doesn't yet excel at.

Whether Jordan got into the European's heads or not, it's clear they felt his presence on the course during their thrilling comeback three years ago. Television footage shows Rory McIlroy and Sergio Garcia both being heartily congratulated by Jordan from the driver's seat of his car as he exited the tournament. McIlroy even briefly draped a European flag over his windscreen, before removing it hastily.

The 5-time MVP player, who is thought to have a 3 handicap, also played with long-time friend Tiger Woods in the Wachovia Championship pro-am at Quail Hollow in 2007. His trademark cigar made an appearance as he stalked the course with Woods, appearing to take all the limelight from his major winning partner.

However, perhaps Jordan's most famous moment on a course came in the Pro-Am of the 1999 Alfred Dunhill Cup at St Andrews, where he comically chased Sergio Garcia down the 16th fairway.

In 2001, Jordan even founded his own tournament, named the Michael Jordan Celebrity Invitational, which he won in 2011 with former NBA player Toni Kukoc. Stars such as Samuel L. Jackson, Mark Wahlberg and Kurt Russell attended before the tournament was discontinued after last year's edition.

Whatever you think of Jordan's presence inside the ropes at Ryder Cups, there's no questioning the impact he's had through his keen adoration for the game, with his tournament raising $7million for charities.

Given his recent escapade with Bradley, Donald and Brady, it's clear Jordan's love of golf isn't on the wane. Even if his demeanour is a little more low key at Hazeltine in 2016, you can be sure he'll be waiting and watching, cigar in hand.

 

 

 

Thomas Patrick Clarke
Sports Digital Editor


Tom Clarke joined Golf Monthly as a sub editor in 2009 being promoted to content editor in 2012 and then senior content editor in 2014, before becoming Sports Digital Editor for the Sport Vertical within Future in 2022. Tom currently looks after all the digital products that Golf Monthly produce including Strategy and Content Planning for the website and social media - Tom also assists the Cycling, Football, Rugby and Marine titles at Future. Tom plays off 16 and lists Augusta National (name drop), Old Head and Le Touessrok as the favourite courses he has played. Tom is an avid viewer of all golf content with a particularly in depth knowledge of the pro tour.