Michael Jordan’s legendary competitiveness isn’t just confined to the basketball court; it extends to the golf course as well.
PGA Tour standout Xander Schauffele recently shared a humbling experience of losing to Jordan in golf, a sport where Jordan, despite being an amateur, exhibits considerable skill.
Schauffele, an accomplished golfer himself, found the defeat particularly “embarrassing” after attempting to rile up the NBA icon with some playful trash talk.
“I pancaked him on his stroke holes, and I started talking [expletive] to him, and he got all quiet and focused,” Schauffele recounted. The shift in Jordan’s demeanor was palpable, and soon after, he decisively turned the game around. “Then he birdied 15-16, no strokes. Beat me straight up. And I was like, ‘All right.’”
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This victory is a testament to Jordan’s athletic prowess and mental toughness, qualities that have defined his career both on and off the basketball court. Schauffele, despite being an Olympic gold medalist and an eight-time tour winner, could only tip his hat to Jordan’s performance.
Off the court, Jordan’s passion for golf is evident in his ownership of The Grove XXIII, his private, invite-only golf course that opened in 2019 in Florida, designed specifically to play to Jordan’s strengths.
Beyond sports, Jordan has also ventured into team ownership in both the NBA and NASCAR, reflecting his deep engagement with the sports world post-basketball.
As for Schauffele, he is setting his sights on the upcoming U.S. Open at Pinehurst, aiming for his first victory at the event after a strong showing in previous years.
Meanwhile, Jordan continues to enjoy competing on the greens, demonstrating the same competitive spirit that made him a basketball legend.
