Michael Jordan is, in addition to being the GOAT of sports, a die-hard Ryder Cup superfan. He’s been a seemingly permanent fixture inside the ropes for as long as anyone can remember. He’s seen it all—from inspiring victories to gut-wrenching losses. He’s seen what it takes to win a Ryder Cup and what it takes to lose one, and thus his opinion following Friday’s brutal morning session for the United States should be cause for serious alarm. Read it and weep.
Wound up next to Michael Jordan at Bethpage as Tyrrell Hatton poured in a birdie to go 3-up on Bryson and JT.
His Airness summarized the morning session nicely.
"We got problems."
— James Colgan (@jamescolgan26) September 26, 2025
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No kidding, Mike. Jordan has a certain authority based on the fact that he’s, well, Michael Jordan, but his thoughts echoed those of U.S. Ryder Cup fans everywhere. After two years of simmering on the embarrassment of Rome, on the U.S. team came out looking very much like the deer-in-the-headlights squad that got blown away early at Marco Simone.
The U.S. dropped three of the four opening foursomes matches, and it wasn’t particularly close, with the Europeans posting crooked numbers— 4&3, 5&3, 5&4— in all three of their point-scoring matches. Xander Schauffele and Patrick Cantlay stopped the bleeding with a crucial point against Viktor Hovland and Robert MacIntyre, but it wasn’t enough to paper over the cracks:
This team, as talented as it is, isn’t a team just yet.
This could change quickly, of course. A Friday four-ball sweep sends the U.S. into the weekend with a lead and all the momentum, but if MJ is worried, then so are we.
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This article was originally published on golfdigest.com
