‘Don’t Give Him That S**t’: Tour Veteran Recalls a Competitive Michael Jordan Golf Story

It is not a secret that former NBA star Michael Jordan is one of the most competitive athletes in the world. It is also a fact that he loves playing golf and often plays with PGA Tour professionals. 

Although he is not a professional, his love for golf and winning spirit had led Fred Couples, the captain of the 2009 Presidents Cup, to appoint him as the honorary captain of Team USA in the event. And according to a former PGA Tour player, the former NBA star lived up to the expectation and even expressed his rage when needed! 

“I think I gave Camillo a putt,” Hunter Mahan explained the event that led him to experience MJ‘s competitiveness during the 2009 Presidents Cup in the Golf Subpar podcast. Mahan, the 6-time PGA Tour title winner, had competed against Camillo Villegas of Team International in the last round. 

Michael Jordan doesn’t like to play around!

Since it was the beginning of the event, Hunter explained he had given the putt to his opponent. “And MJ just looked at me,” he said. “Like intense! Super intense! Like he was playing or something.” 

“He’s like, ‘Don’t give him that s**t! Don’t give him that s**t!'” Hunter explained what the NBA legend said to him. The golfer further added, “And slapped me in the a**!”  

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According to the 6-time PGA champion, he told his caddy, “that was terrifying but awesome at the same time.” Hunter explained that the former Chicago Bulls star shooting guard’s competitiveness led him to find a way to win the match against Villegas. Notably, Hunter defeated Camillo Villega with 2 and 1. 

Did Team USA win the 2009 Presidents Cup with MJ and Couple’s leadership? 

Team USA, under the captaincy of Couples and Micahel Jordan, won the 2009 Presidents Cup against Greg Norman’s Team International with a margin of 19.5 to 14.5. Notably, Tiger Woods created an event record with his 5-0-0. Phil Mickelson, Anthony Kim, and the 2023 Ryder Cup captain Zach Johnson were some of the others on the winning team with Woods and Hunter. 

The President Cup was first played at the Robert Trent Jones Golf Club in Virginia in 1994. And ever since then, Team USA has won 11 times in the tournament against Team International. 

Team USA would have won the tournament without NBA legend Michael Jordan’s help. However, his presence and competitiveness gave extra energy to the players. Do you know an athlete more competitive than MJ?

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