ORLANDO, Fla. – Before the tournament starts, the PGA players and amateurs got a chance to play at Bay Hill on Wednesday.
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.
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.
“I’ve seen football at the highest level, and there’s just a difference when you get around the people that are elite at what they do,” Frost said after playing. “It’s the same with this. These guys are so good, and you don’t realize it until you walk around and watch them hit ball.”
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.
“It’s rough out here, man,” Barkley reflected. “I don’t 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.”
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.
“It’s definitely a place I always enjoy coming back and playing,” Scheffler said. “Obviously, with Mr. Palmer’s legacy and the way the golf course is, it’s very challenging, and so it’s always a fun test, I think, for us as players. So, yeah, it’s good to be back, for sure.”
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’s won this event once.
“It’s obviously a very important event on the PGA TOUR, and it’s become a very important event in my schedule” McIlroy said. “So, yeah, glad to be back. It’s also a golf course that I’ve obviously had one win, but I’ve had quite a lot of success on, I played well on it.”
The Arnold Palmer Invitational runs Thursday through Sunday.