The China Mail - NBA icon Jordan's insights help Europe's Donald at Ryder Cup

The 47-year-old Englishman attended Northwestern University in suburban Chicago starting in 1997 and became friends with Chicago Bulls superstar Jordan.

Donald never dreamed he would use the insights gained from the six-time NBA champion as Europe's captain in this week's showdown against the United States at Bethpage Black.

"Very surreal for me," Donald said Tuesday. "I grew up in England so I wasn't that exposed to how big he was, but I came to college in Chicago in '97, sort of the end of his major run, and all you hear about is people talking about him.

"So you understand, start watching more games and understanding the influence he had."

Through mutual pals, Donald became friends with Jordan, an avid golfer and golf fan. As Jordan was winning his last NBA crowns in 1997 and 1998, Donald was winning the 1999 US college crown, breaking a record belonging to Tiger Woods in the process.

Donald gathered insights about what made Jordan not only a great player but a tremendous leader of championship teams.

"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 said.

"He was never going to do anything he didn't ask his teammates to do. He set the example. He led from the front. He was very passionate about it and he was very good at breaking down things into smaller manageable goals."

Donald cited Jordan wanting to win an NBA season scoring title and breaking down what he needed to score into points per quarters to simplify the challenge and goal.

Jordan won five NBA scoring titles before leading the Bulls to their first crown.

"You need your teammates around you. You can be a team of champions but not a championship team," Donald said. "You always need the people around you. You're always stronger being a collective.

"I think that's something that I certainly took from him and I've tried to implant on my teams the last two times, that we're always stronger together. Those are strong values that we try and live up to."

Donald's team emphasis paid dividends with a Europe victory in Rome in 2023. He hopes to repeat the feat on US soil with 11 of the same 12 players in the lineup.

- 'A USA hat on' -

Jordan won three NBA titles from 1991-1993, stepped away from the sport, then returned for crowns in 1996-1998 with mostly a new supporting cast and a learned trust in teammates.

"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 said.

"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."

Also good friends with both men is US Ryder Cup captain Keegan Bradley.

"Michael is also very close to Keegan and I'm sure Keegan has maybe leaned on MJ a little bit as well over the last year," Donald said. "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."

Donald said he expects to see Jordan at Bethpage Black this week.

"I think he will have a USA hat on," Donald said.

N.Wan--ThChM