Rory McIlroy has gone on record to say that basketball icon Michael Jordan is one of his heroes. But did you know that Jordan once took notice of the four-time Major Championship winner and praised the latter’s game despite his comparatively smaller frame?

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Michael Jordan’s affection towards the game of golf

A six-time NBA Finals winner with Chicago Bulls, Michael Jordan was more than any other player in the sport. He revolutionalized the game and brought worldwide attention to scale the game at unprecedented heights.

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However, apart from cementing his status as one of the greatest players in the sport, Jordan also has a keen interest in golf. He reportedly has a “bad 4” as a handicap and plays golf “almost every day”.

Jordan’s love for the game was further personified when he opened his private golf course, called Grove XXIII, in Florida. He later claimed that he was a regular on the course, and played 36 holes of golf almost every day.

Michael Jordan speaks about Rory McIlroy’s golf game

In an interview with Cigar Aficionado, Jordan opened up on his views on a number of professional golfers in the circuit. Among them was the mention of Rory McIlroy, for whom Jordan had specially kept his praises reserved.

“Very talented … For someone that small, to generate that much power, is truly amazing,” he spoke about McIlroy. “I’m fascinated that with my massive size, these guys can blow it past me.”

To clear up any confusion, Jordan was referring to McIlroy’s height. The Brit stands at a respective 5′ 9″ but dwarfs in comparison to an intimidating frame of Jordan, which stands at 6’6”.

Jordan was fascinated with McIlroy’s tee distance despite his shorter frame, something which the latter is known for these days. Despite a barren run in terms of Major Championship wins, McIlroy has placed himself among the best in business when it comes to long-range distances, even with his natural swing.

Will we see Jordan and McIlroy smashing it up in a friendly golf tournament? Comment down below.

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