A resurfaced video from 2007 has reignited interest in the iconic friendship between two of the greatest athletes of all time: Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods.
Captured during a pro-am event at the Wachovia Championship at Quail Hollow in Charlotte, the clip shows Jordan sinking a putt and immediately mimicking Woods’ signature fist pump celebration, a moment that drew laughter from the crowd and highlighted the chemistry between two fierce competitors at the top of their games.
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Michael Jordan and Tiger Woods were more than just occasional golf partners. Their friendship blossomed in the late 1990s, as Woods ascended to global superstardom in golf just as Jordan’s NBA reign with the Chicago Bulls was reaching mythical proportions.
Both men understood what it took to dominate their respective sports: supreme confidence, relentless preparation, and the ability to rise in pressure-filled moments. Jordan even once wrote a piece for ESPN praising Tiger’s mental strength and clutch performances, comparing Woods’ will to win with the mindset Jordan carried throughout his legendary NBA career.
The video, now going viral thanks to the Instagram account Skratch, offers a humorous and nostalgic look at the camaraderie between the two legends.
Jordan’s exaggerated impersonation of Woods’ fist pump was clearly a playful jab, but given their shared competitiveness, it also symbolized mutual respect. At that time, it felt like the two were cut from the same cloth, icons who ruled their sports with an iron grip and inspired generations of athletes.
Yet, what makes the resurfaced moment even more poignant is the gradual breakdown of their friendship in the years that followed. When Tiger Woods faced personal turmoil, including the tragic death of his father and the public unraveling of his marriage, his relationship with Jordan began to strain.
People close to Woods began to view Jordan’s lifestyle, marked by cigars, gambling, and nightlife, as a potential negative influence. Tiger’s former lawyer, John Merchant, even advised the golfer to distance himself from MJ, believing that Jordan’s presence clashed with the discipline required to sustain a legacy in the rigid world of professional golf.
Their dynamic further deteriorated after Woods’ near-fatal car crash in 2021. Jordan reportedly doubted whether his friend could return to elite form, a sentiment that Woods ultimately proved wrong with a remarkable comeback that captured the public’s imagination, partly inspired, in an unexpected twist, by actor Mr. T’s unwavering belief in him.
Now, with that lighthearted moment from 2007 circulating once more, fans are reminded not only of the joy their bond once brought but also the complexities that fame, personal choices, and time can introduce into even the strongest relationships. Jordan’s mockery, once just friendly ribbing, now carries a tinge of melancholy.
a symbol of a great friendship that may never fully rekindle. Still, seeing the world’s greatest basketball player share a laugh with the world’s greatest golfer remains a powerful snapshot of sporting history, one that fans will treasure for years to come.
