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AUCHTERARDER, SCOTLAND – SEPTEMBER 26: Ex-NBA star Michael Jordan watches the action during the Morning Fourballs of the 2014 Ryder Cup on the PGA Centenary course at the Gleneagles Hotel on September 26, 2014 in Auchterarder, Scotland. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
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AUCHTERARDER, SCOTLAND – SEPTEMBER 26: Ex-NBA star Michael Jordan watches the action during the Morning Fourballs of the 2014 Ryder Cup on the PGA Centenary course at the Gleneagles Hotel on September 26, 2014 in Auchterarder, Scotland. (Photo by Ross Kinnaird/Getty Images)
Basketball is not the only sport Michael Jordan is associated with. His obsession with golf has been well-known ever since he retired. Owing to his status, the 58-year-old certainly has some influence in the world of golf as well. Even the best in that sport take inspiration from what Michael accomplished in his career.
In fact, former number one and current Ryder Cup champion with Team USA, Justin Thomas admitted Jordan inspired him. While Michael and Justin are friends now, Justin grew up watching Michael Jordan’s highlights. So now, after his success at the Ryder Cup, Thomas revealed how Jordan inspired him.
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Golf – The 2020 Ryder Cup – Whistling Straits, Sheboygan, Wisconsin, U.S. – September 25, 2021 Team USA’s Justin Thomas reacts on the 16th green after winning the hole during the Foursomes REUTERS/Mike Segar
Justin Thomas on Michael Jordan as an inspiration
On the radio podcast “Call him Papi” Thomas appeared for an interview with David Ortiz and Jared Carrabis. In that interview, Thomas said, “I obviously am a big MJ fan, because of knowing him and because of seeing his highlights. But I’ve never like actually, you know, watched any of his games, or I never saw any of that live. So that documentary for me was pretty eye-opening. To actually hear what he had to say and hear some of the backstories and it was just, it was a kind of motivation for me.”
By ‘the documentary’, Justin was referring to ‘The Last Dance’ which was released on Netflix last year. Despite having retired almost 20 years ago, this documentary showed the generational impact of the Chicago Bulls dynasty. From Justin’s statements, we can infer that Jordan’s principles and mentality became lessons for him on the golf course.
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28 April 2010: NBA Legend Michael Jordan during the Pro-Am of the Quail Hollow Championship. Held at Quail Hollow Country Club in Charlotte, North Carolina. (Photo by Chris Keane/Icon SMI/Icon Sport Media via Getty Images)
How Jordan met Justin Thomas
Jordan used to visit Louisville, Kentucky, for the Kentucky Derby. Thomas grew up in Kentucky. Through a mutual friend, Thomas’ father got to play with Michael Jordan. He asked Justin to accompany them. And well, the rest is history.
A classic story..
.#airjordan #michaeljordan #nike #justinthomas #jt #thegoat #golf #golfing #pga #pgatour #win #winning #classic #story pic.twitter.com/lvQq2ihto7— Pick'em Daily (@_pickemdaily) January 13, 2020
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