NBA legend Michael Jordan has emerged as a potential vice-captain for the 2025 Ryder Cup, following Keegan Bradley’s recent appointment as captain. Bradley was selected by the PGA of America to succeed Zach Johnson and lead Team USA at Bethpage Black in New York next year, aiming to reclaim victory from the Europeans after a tough defeat.
Bradley’s appointment came as a surprise, especially since he was overlooked by Johnson for a captain’s pick in Rome just 10 months ago. After Tiger Woods reportedly turned down the captaincy, the PGA of America decided to think outside the box, exploring new avenues following the USA’s 16.5-11.5 loss on European soil last September.
This led to suggestions that the organization should consider unconventional choices for vice-captain positions in New York. PGA TOUR Radio host Jason Sobel proposed bringing in collegiate golf coaches to inject fresh energy into the team dynamics. Former caddie and ESPN writer Michael Collins took this idea further, suggesting that influential figures from other sports could be beneficial.
“I think if we’re going outside the box, give me a college coach that’s not a golf coach or someone from a different sport,” Collins said. “Back in the day, would it have been cool to have Phil Jackson in the room? Would it be cool to have [Michael] Jordan?”
Collins also mentioned former Alabama football coach Nick Saban as a potential candidate, noting his enthusiasm for golf. Sobel agreed, stating, “I’ve got no problem with a guy like that being in the team room, whether in an official assistant captain capacity or unofficially.”
Given Jordan’s deep involvement in golf, his potential role as vice-captain seems fitting. Jordan, an avid golf fan and player, frequently plays with Ryder Cup team members like Rickie Fowler and Xander Schauffele. He also made a notable appearance at Le Golf National in 2018, visiting the away team’s locker room to share his experiences of winning under pressure.
“Michael was talking about how he would always play on the road against tough opponents or crowds that were always against him,” Brooks Koepka recounted. “It’s just funny hearing a different athlete’s point of view and how they would go about it. You can take what you want from there.”
Fowler added that Jordan shared stories about the toughest teams and individuals he faced, offering insights on handling home and away games. Despite his allegiance to Team USA, Jordan has strong ties with European players, particularly European captain Luke Donald, his neighbor and friend in Jupiter, Florida. Last year, Jordan reportedly celebrated Europe’s triumph in Rome with Donald and other European players.
“They are friends and neighbors,” explained Shane Lowry. “Jordan is very much a pro-USA guy, but he sat with us from six to nine, talking about the issue of players being paid at the Ryder Cup.”
McIlroy added, “He told a story about the U.S. basketball team, The Dream Team, at the Olympics in ’92. ‘Do you think I could have got paid to play in the Olympics? These people are missing the point of what it means.'”
Jordan emphasized the long-term value of winning, sharing his perspective that true success extends beyond immediate financial gain.
With Bradley leading the charge and the possibility of Jordan playing a key role, Team USA’s quest for victory at Bethpage Black promises to be an exciting journey. The next Ryder Cup could see innovative leadership and strategic insights from sports legends, aiming to inspire and guide the team to triumph.
