Inside Europe, Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald’s unlikely friendship with Michael Jordan includes playing golf with Tom Brady

European Ryder Cup captain Luke Donald has a surprising friendship with both Michael Jordan and Tom Brady.

The British golfer is ready to lead Team Europe this weekend at Marco Simeone Golf and Country Club.

After Henrik Stenson was fired for joining LIV, Donald was named captain as a back-up option as he looks to defeat Team USA on the outskirts of Rome, Italy.

The former world No. 1 golf star has ties to the United States and is good friends with Jordan and Brady.

Donald and the basketball legend both own homes in Florida and are neighbors.

They have since become close friends and hung out for the first time in 2015.

Jordan, an avid golfer, joined Donald on the fairway, and they were also joined on the course by Keegan Bradley and NFL hero Brady.

They have remained friends ever since, with the Chicago Bulls hero recently dining out with the Ryder Cup captain.

Speaking to The Daily Telegraph, Donald revealed he was being backed to defeat the Americans.

“I had dinner with Michael Jordan a few weeks ago,” he said.

“He predicts the European team will win. But don’t tell the American team that.”

Jordan is not expected to attend this year’s event.

But Donald knows he will be watching on TV as he plans to put the bitter experience of a 19-9 defeat at the Whistling Straits in 2021 behind Team Europe.

He continued: “We’ve got some superstars; we’ve got a lovely core of great players and some young guys with huge potential.

“But we are coming off the worst losses ever and Americans are going to be the betting favorites. We will never underestimate Americans.

“You know, their partnerships have an 85 to 90 percent win rate, which is unheard of.

“So, our hands are full, but I do feel really, really good.”