ORLANDO, Fla. \u2013 Before the tournament starts, the PGA players and amateurs got a chance to play at Bay Hill on Wednesday. <\/p>\n
The pro-am offered the opportunity for four people to play and walk around the course with one professional golfer per group. The pros use this round as a chance to practice before the Arnold Palmer Invitational begins on Thursday. <\/p>\n
UCF football head coach Scott Frost and NBA Hall of Famer Charles Barkley were among those who played with the pros. They were in awe playing alongside some of the best players in the world. <\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve seen football at the highest level, and there\u2019s just a difference when you get around the people that are elite at what they do,\u201d Frost said after playing. \u201cIt\u2019s the same with this. These guys are so good, and you don\u2019t realize it until you walk around and watch them hit ball.\u201d<\/p>\n
The players describe Bay Hill during tournament time as very difficult with fast greens and thick roughs. Barkley got his fair share of both in his round.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s rough out here, man,\u201d Barkley reflected. \u201cI don\u2019t know many women that have hair this nappy; the rough is no joke out here. But you know what, it was an honor to play this course. I had a great time.\u201d<\/p>\n
World No. 1 Scottie Scheffler and No. 2 Rory McIlroy return as two of the tournament favorites to win. Scheffler has won this event two times. <\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s definitely a place I always enjoy coming back and playing,\u201d Scheffler said. \u201cObviously, with Mr. Palmer\u2019s legacy and the way the golf course is, it\u2019s very challenging, and so it\u2019s always a fun test, I think, for us as players. So, yeah, it\u2019s good to be back, for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n
Scheffler tees off on Thursday at 10:20 a.m. and Friday at 1:30 p.m., both with defending champion Russell Henley. McIlroy tees off 1:30 p.m. Thursday and 10:20 a.m. Friday. He\u2019s won this event once.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s obviously a very important event on the PGA TOUR, and it\u2019s become a very important event in my schedule\u201d McIlroy said. \u201cSo, yeah, glad to be back. It\u2019s also a golf course that I\u2019ve obviously had one win, but I\u2019ve had quite a lot of success on, I played well on it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The Arnold Palmer Invitational runs Thursday through Sunday.<\/p>\n
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