NBA legend Michael Jordan has built a strong reputation in golf over the years, but seven-time PGA Tour winner Peter Jacobsen says that wasn't always reflected in the wagers they played.

In a recent appearance on The Dan Patrick Show, Jacobsen recalled playing golf with Jordan during his time around the U.S. "Dream Team" era in Portland.

“During the Olympics, the Dream Team, we went and played in Portland because my buddy P.J. Carlesimo was the Trail Blazers coach, and we would go out and play before the games, and we’d play for a couple hundred bucks, that’s it,” Jacobsen shared.

Looking back on those rounds, Jacobsen made a surprising claim.

“I never lost to him. I don’t think anybody’s ever lost money to Michael.”

Jacobsen's claim surprised Patrick, who wondered whether Jordan's confidence in golf sometimes exceeded his results on the course.

“I’ve been around Mike before at the Jimmy V Golf Tournament,” Patrick said on his show. “And they said Mike will tell you his handicap is better than what he really is, and therefore, he loses money. Is that a fair assessment?”

Jacobsen said Jordan approached golf the same way he approached basketball, constantly looking for ways to improve.

“Well, the other part of your arsenal as a player is that you have to think you’re a lot better than you really are. You’ve got to have a really good verbal game, as well as a good short game and a good swing,” Jacobsen added.

While Jordan's confidence stood out, Jacobsen said his willingness to learn was what ultimately helped him improve as a golfer.

Peter Jacobsen on Michael Jordan being "a sponge"

Today, Michael Jordan is regarded as one of the most accomplished celebrity golfers. However, it took a lot of learning to reach this stage.

“He was like a sponge. I would say, ‘No, no, when you hit a flop, wedge goes open, you swing left, you throw the head out.’ He would do it,” said Jacobsen in the same episode. “I’ve never seen anybody accept instruction and actually replicate it like a Michael Jordan.”

Jordan’s progress eventually became noticeable among professional golfers. Jacobsen's comments about Jordan being "a sponge" align with later stories from the golf world. Two-time major winner Xander Schauffele revealed on Golf on CBS's X account in 2024 that he had lost money to Jordan on the course, suggesting the NBA legend's game had improved significantly from the days when Jacobsen claimed nobody lost money to him.

In 2019, Jordan also opened his own private golf club, Grove XXIII, which showcased his love for the game.

What are your thoughts on Jacobsen’s story about Michael Jordan? Share them in the comments.

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Written by

Avishek Sarkar

Edited by

Pulkit Prabhav