Air Jordan Full of Hot Air on Golf Course

SAN FRANCISCO -- So much for the Jordan Effect.

Captain Fred Couples brought in Michael Jordan to instill confidence and camaraderie in the American team for this week's Presidents Cup. But after one day, it's obvious that Texas native Justin Leonard is no Jordan.

MJ never missed the last shot, especially when it was a three-footer. Leonard blew such a layup to inadvertently help salvage the International team's day.

The Americans still lead 3 1/2 to 2 1/2 and will probably still win this thing. But the notion that Jordan's presence will have any bearing either way pretty much went up in smoke on Thursday.

Fear not, San Franciscans. We don't mean cigar smoke.

Jordan violated local ordinances earlier this week when he traipsed around the course smoking a stogie. A city recreation manager sent a gentle e-mail to PGA Tour officials reminding them that such activity is not allowed on public golf courses.

Jordan resisted the temptation to immediately buy Harding Park and turn it into a tobacco farm. But you know he'd love to rub it in the faces of city fathers, just as he used to torment any player who dared get in his way.

Golf is a different game. Jordan can huff and puff, but even he can't blow away the gremlins that creep into players' heads at the worst of times.

That said, I'm glad he showed up to try. Who would you rather have as Couples' "assistant assistant," Jordan or Joey Sindelar?

As long as Mike Krzyzewski doesn't return the favor and make Kenny Perry an assistant on the next Olympic hoops team, no harm done.

And for those of you who think it's just another one of Jordan's ego trips, he didn't campaign for the job. Couples simply asked him to do it -- and Jordan liked the idea.

"He's just telling them to relax and have fun," Couples said.

Maybe all the stories of turning Craig Ehlo into a tragic figure would fire up the troops. The only danger would be if the U.S. won the Presidents Cup and Jordan insisted on giving the acceptance speech. Based on his Hall of Fame performance, he'd rip George Washington, Warren G. Harding and every head of state who ever doubted he could break 100.

He's actually a three handicap who plays about six times a week, which may explain why most of the Charlotte Bobcats' draft picks have resembled Corey Pavin.

Say what you will about MJ's executive skill and dedication. Nobody played the game with more will or swagger. When the game was on the line, who would you rather have taking the putt?

"It's a training of the mind that you believe you can do it," Jordan said.

Tiger Woods needs confidence tips like he needs putting advice from Jordan, so the world's tallest golf guru has concentrated on the young guys.

MJ played a practice round/encounter session with Sean O'Hair, Lucas Glover and Hunter Mahan. O'Hair is Coach Jordan's pet project.

"He thinks the glass is half-empty when it should be half-full," MJ said.

O'Hair and Mahan promptly went out Thursday and came up completely empty. Their alternate-shot loss to Adam Scott and Ernie Els didn't seem like a big deal since the team was leading or tied in the five other matches.

Then Glover needed to make a four-foot putt on No. 17 to stay tied with Vijay Singh and Robert Allenby. You could almost hear his swing thought.

"Craig Ehlo ... Craig Ehlo ... "

Nooooo.

"Shake it off, Lucas," Jordan told him. "We've got one more."

Yes, and Glover promptly air-mailed his next shot over the green. Where was Byron Russell when you needed him?

Suddenly a potential 5-1 lead after Day 1 was gone. Then Leonard gift-wrapped a half-point when he missed that three-footer. International captain Greg Norman had to cover his mouth to hide his smile of relief.

"I think the performance of my team was exceptional and we are happy," Norman said. "We are not ecstatic about it, but we are happy."

Jordan was back in the locker room, probably trying to relate stories of all the big shots he missed and how the important thing was to not lose confidence.

Maybe O'Hair and the others will come out Friday and play like the '96 Bulls. Or they could just as easily be the Bobcats.

Either way, it won't be due to Jordan. It's fun having him around, but the fact is where there's smoke, there is not always fire.