Michael Jordan celebrates Ryder Cup with Rory McIlroy, Sean Lowry

“The Goat” wants to join in the festivities.

Rory McIlroy and Sean Lowry returned home to Florida in high spirits after Europe’s stunning win over the United States at the 2023 Ryder Cup.

The two lads from the Emerald Isle decided to keep the party going, so they watched the game video with Europe captain Luke Donald and recalled what had just happened.

The Europeans also enjoyed wine tasting and lunch at McIlroy’s home in South Florida.

Then McIlroy’s close friend Michael Jordan (Tiger Woods) reaches out.

“Rory and Luke started texting Jordan and the next thing (I know), we were sitting there drinking with Michael Jordan, just the four of us, and I was like, ‘What!'” Lowry said.Arrive irish independent

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“He’s a very pro-American guy. “This is the first time in 25 years that he’s not playing in the Ryder Cup, so we criticized him pretty hard. “

Photo by Scott Halleran/Getty Images

Jordan is widely considered the greatest basketball player of all time. He rose to international stardom as a member of the Chicago Bulls in the early 1990s, winning six championships.

He also represented Team USA in the 1992 Olympics as a member of the “Dream Team.” Prior to the 1992 Summer Olympics in Barcelona, ​​professional basketball players were banned from participating in the Olympics.

So, Jordan knows everything about representing his country.

“We were talking about Ryder Cup player salaries and he told a story about USA Basketball,” McIlroy said.

“‘Don’t you think I can get paid to be in the Olympics?’ (Jordan) said. “These people don’t grasp the point of it. “He saw the long-term value of winning the Olympics and said he ended up doing a lot better than taking money on the spot. That’s how I see it. “

Controversy arose over compensation at this year’s Ryder Cup on Saturday. Sky Sports’ Jamie Weir reports that Patrick Cantlay went hatless in protest against the PGA’s pay-to-play rules.

Cantlay and other members of the U.S. team later dismissed the report.

“I would say more people watch the Ryder Cup than any other golf tournament in the world,” McIlroy continued.

“It captures the imagination of casual (fans) more. So we have this incredible platform to bring the game to a new audience that I think is better than paying a hundred or hundreds of dollars to play this The game is more important.”

Jack Milko is the golf staff writer for SB Nation’s Playing Through.You can follow him on Twitter @jackmilko Get more golf coverage.Be sure to check it out @_PlayingThrough also.