SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Basketball great Michael Jordan has been told to butt out if he wants to continue to be part of the United States' Presidents Cup team that will take on the Internationals at Harding Park Golf Course this week.

After seeing a picture of Jordan puffing on a cigar in Tuesday's San Francisco Examiner, city officials asked the PGA Tour to remind the basketball Hall of Famer there is no smoking allowed on public golf courses, including Harding Park.

"I've already sent off an email to the PGA Tour director," city recreation and park general manager Phil Ginsburg told the Examiner.

"It was sort of a gentle nudge reminding them that smoking is illegal and that we would appreciate their support."

The cigar-chomping Jordan, who has joined the U.S. squad as a special assistant, could face a $100 (62 pound) fine if he is again seen smoking on the course.

Asked by PGATour.com how many cigars he planned to smoke during the tournament, Jordan was faced with the prospect of going cold turkey.

"I heard this is a public place so they limit what you can smoke," said Jordan. "I'm not even suppose to be smoking but this was a practice round and no one said anything."

Jordan, who led the Chicago Bulls to six NBA championships and is considered by many the greatest basketball player of all time, was appointed by U.S. team captain Fred Couples to be an "assistant assistant."

A close friend of world number one Tiger Woods and a huge golf fan who routinely attends the sport's biggest events, Jordan was brought in to provide motivation and energise the U.S. squad.

(Writing by Steve Keating; editing by Miles Evans)