Out of all the top players who had ever played in the Ryder Cup, no one was expecting Keegan Bradey to become the 2025 captain. Just last year, the 38-year-old pro was heartbroken as he missed the American trip to Italy for the 44th Ryder Cup, where Team US eventually lost. Now, he will be leading the pack of 12 top pros in Bethpage, New York.

As the captain had been announced, now it was time for the vice captains. At the Sirius XM PGA Tour Radio show, another unexpected proposal surfaced. Hosts Jason Sobel and Michael Collins discussed co-captains for the Ryder Cup team and, at first, suggested renowned college coaches for Team USA. However, Collins proposed the unconventional idea of a coach from a different sport. After suggesting former player Phil Jackson, he asked, “Wouldn’t it be cool to have Jordan?”

Sobel argued that, despite being unconventional, Michael Jordan might be a good option, as he has been fervently following golf and has also been a relatively good recreational golfer. Not only that, Bradley and Jordan have been close friends since meeting at the Country Club of Medinah in 2012. With one of the best basketball players in Bethpage’s locker room, the hosts joked that Jordan would put two unexpected duos together and eventually win.

Given the hypothetical nature of the situation, one could assume that Jordan could have a positive impact on the team in the upcoming Ryder Cup at Bethpage. However, it’s equally easy to assume the opposite, and unfortunately for the hosts, many in the golf world remain skeptical! They don’t agree that Jordan is a good choice as the right-hand man for the 2025 Ryder Cup team.

Netizens don’t want Michael Jordan to assist Keegan Bradley in the 2025 Ryder Cup

There has never been a captain or assistant captain on the Ryder Cup team from outside of golf. And, of course, the answer to why is quite obvious. ‘They’re not pro golfers,’ no matter how good; they don’t know the pressure of playing professionally for your country, moreover! Additionally, the qualifications of each team member, from captains to players, are based on their years in golf and their achievements in the professional game.

In this regard, Jordan, unsurprisingly, doesn’t have anything to back him up. While he may be considered the greatest basketball player, is he a great golfer? That is debatable, no matter how often he heads to a course. This fan felt the same way, exclaiming, “It’s a horrendous idea.” Another user had a similar opinion. Although they agreed that Jordan had been following the Ryder Cup since 1999 and was a fixture on the green, they couldn’t still support it. They said, “No, he is a good golfer but it’s to gimmicky.”

Surprisingly, in the last 11 editions of the Ryder Cup, Team Europe has taken the glory home nine times, whereas Team USA has only won three times. The drastic difference has been on every American’s mind, just as consistent Team US losses have been. In 2023 as well, Zach Johnson and his roster lost at Marco Simone by a 5.5-point deficit. Even after that huge defeat, fans debating over such absurd names infuriated one.“This is why Americans don’t win. IT IS NOT SERIOUS.”

Do you remember the ‘Meltdown of Medinah’ in 2012? The Americans had a 10-point lead going into the Sunday finals; Rory McIlroy arrived just a few minutes before his tee time as the police escorted him, and yet the Europeans won by 14.5 points over the Americans’ 13.5. At that time, Michael Jordan was also present at the course. But that clearly didn’t help, did it? This fan believes that the situation will remain unchanged next year as well. “No. Come on. They have had him there before. Medinah was a nightmare. Move on.” 

Alice Cooper is another recreational golfer who has a handicap of 4 and plays golf six days a week. He can be called a golf fanatic and might love it just as much as Jordan does. So, he wouldn’t be a bad pick for outside-the-box vice captains and assistants, right? Wrong! Taking a dig at Sobel and Collins, this fan said, “Horrible idea. Why not just make Alice Cooper a vice-captain, too?” 

One thing’s for sure: regardless of how big of a legendary player Michael Jordan has been in basketball and how much he loves golf, the golf world as of now refuses to accept him on the Ryder Cup team, no matter how hypothetical. Maybe that change in 2027 MJ!