Is this American legend inadvertently helping shape Team Europe’s Ryder Cup masterplan?

An unlikely source could have unknowingly provided European captain Luke Donald with the ultimate blueprint for Bethpage success…

Luke Donald has plenty of people in his corner as he attempts to do what only Tony Jacklin has done previously and lead Team Europe to successive Ryder Cup victories.

As well as his vice-captains, the Englishman will have a huge support network behind him for the battle at Bethpage as he attempts to mastermind a win on away soil.

But does he also have a secret weapon? Having attended university in Chicago around the turn of the century, Donald forged a close friendship with basketball god Michael Jordan – and he’s made sure to pick 23’s brains down the years.

So, while Jordan will undoubtedly be rooting for a US victory, could those lessons help Donald to glory in New York?

“I’ve known Michael for a long time. I got to play some golf with him even at the end of my college career, so back in the early 2000s, with being in Chicago,” Donald told the media at Bethpage on Tuesday.

“We had some mutual friends. He loved to play golf with good players, and I was lucky enough to be put into the group and we formed a friendship. We live very close to each other in Florida now and remain good friends.

“I think Michael is someone I’ve been very fortunate to get access to and pick his brain occasionally about what made him tick, what motivated him, how he was able to get the best out of himself.”

Donald is also aware, though, that his counterpart Keegan Bradley is also close with the Chicago Bulls great.

“I’m sure Keegan has leaned on MJ a little bit as well over the last year,” Donald explained. “He’s not going to specifically give me advice this time around, but certainly my friendship over the years I’ve picked up many things.

“It’s nice to have someone that is a legend of their sport, the greatest ever, quite arguably, to sit down occasionally and pick their brains. I think he’s here supporting, I believe, this week, but I think he will have a USA hat on as well this week.”

European teams have become renowned for all the little touches they put into giving themselves the best chance of Ryder Cup success. And the 2025 edition has been no different.

Expected to be an atmosphere unlike anything else in front of typically rowdy New York fans, Donald has even had his players in virtual reality headsets to try and simulate what it might be like competing in such a cauldron.

“When we came up with that idea, it was just one idea in a multitude of ideas to get these guys ready,” Donald continued. “At the beginning of a qualification, you expect there to be a bunch of rookies that have not played a Ryder Cup before.

“This was really aimed at some of those, maybe some that have never played an away Ryder Cup. But we actually in the end have a team that, one, has quite a lot of experience being together, and has played quite a few away Ryder Cups as well.”

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