Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry share details of boozy chat with Michael Jordan
Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry have revealed details of an interesting chat they had with Michael Jordan over whether Ryder Cup players should be paid.
Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry have revealed details of a chat they had with Michael Jordan over whether Ryder Cup players deserve to be paid.
Part one of the golfers' interview with the Irish Independent saw McIlroy and Lowry going into detail about how at one point in their careers their relationship was considerably strained.
Money was the issue and it centred over McIlroy's dispute with Horizon which, at the time, were representing Lowry.
"It's at the root of all evil," McIlroy said as he explained they are now closer than ever.
McIlroy also went into detail over what transpired between himself and Joe LaCava after they were involved in a heated argument at the conclusion of a thrilling Ryder Cup that saw Patrick Cantlay drain a huge birdie putt that sparked wild celebrations for the U.S. side, including the looper.
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The 34-year-old said Tiger Woods even got involved after seeing an enraged McIlroy bundled into the back of a car by Lowry in front of his wife Erica Stoll at the Marco Simone Golf & Country Club.
It is all water under the bridge and McIlroy even decided to make light of the moment as Europe celebrated their 16½ - 11½ win.
McIlroy told the paper:
Added Lowry: "It's funny, but the Americans always come into the European team room, even when they win. Jordan Spieth came in and started joking with Wendy: "F**k! I hated your husband today."
"Then they FaceTimed Annie, Jordan's wife, who had just had a baby. Wendy and Annie are friends."
Lowry also spoke of their chat with NBA legend Jordan and resisting the temptation to ask for a picture.
According to McIlroy, the 60-year-old former Chicago Bull believes golfers shouldn't be compensated.
He explained: "He sat with us from six until nine. We were talking about the issue of players being paid at the Ryder Cup and he told a story about the U.S. basketball team, the Dream Team, at the Olympics in '92."
McIlroy said Jordan asked: "Do you not think I could have got paid to play in the Olympics? These people are missing the point of what it means."
Continued McIlroy: "He saw the long-term value of winning an Olympics, and said he ended up doing way better than if he had taken money there and then. And that's pretty much how I see it. I'd say more people watch the Ryder Cup than any other golf tournament in the world.
"I think it captures the casuals' imagination a bit more. So we've got this unbelievable platform to take the game to a new audience, and I think that's way more important than being paid a hundred, or a couple of hundred grand to play in the thing."
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