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McIlroy can’t get past the front 9 at Sawgrass

By WTOP Staff

DOUG FERGUSON
AP Golf Writer

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — The way Rory McIlroy has played the back nine at the TPC Sawgrass, he should be in position to win The Players Championship.

The way he has played the front nine, he was lucky to make the cut.

Rarely has there been such a tale of two nines. Through three rounds, McIlroy was 21 shots better on the back nine. He padded that total Saturday by closing with three straight birdies for a 69, atoning for another rugged start.

“I’m 12-under par for the back nine, and I’m 9 over for the front nine,” McIlroy said. “I don’t know what it is about the front. It’s like kryptonite. I get on it and I just can’t function.”

He was 4 over through six holes in the third round and appeared likely to miss the 54-hole cut. He played 7 under the rest of the way, with five birdies on the back nine. McIlroy was 6 over through six holes in the second round, and shot 32 on the back, including a birdie on the 18th to make the cut on the number.

In the opening round, he was among the leaders. Trouble was, he started on No. 10. When he got to the front nine, he made three bogeys on the last seven holes and had to settle for a 70.

“Once I get on the back nine, I feel so comfortable. I feel like I can shoot anything,” McIlroy said. “I’ve got to go out tomorrow and try to keep it together a little bit on the front nine, even if that means pars, not doing anything special.”

It’s not just the Stadium Course. McIlroy is playing well enough to have won this year. He’s hitting enough poor shots to hold him back.

“That’s OK,” he said. “That’s positive to know you’re playing so many good shots and you’re making birdies. I’m giving myself loads of chances. I’m converting a lot of them. I’m just making too many mistakes. But that’s easier to sort out than not being able to make a lot of birdies.”

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RYDER CUP FEVER: Martin Kaymer at times felt like he was at the Ryder Cup during the third round of The Players Championship.

That wasn’t a good sign.

Jordan Spieth made a 12-foot par putt on the 18th hole. Kaymer then missed his 10-foot par putt, falling into a share of the lead with Spieth. After he missed the putt, there was audible cheering from around the 18th green “which I wish didn’t happen,” Spieth said.

“When he missed his putt, there were some cheers … like a Ryder Cup,” Spieth said. “He handled it gracefully. Just a class act. Took his hat off, smiled, and we were saying how much we enjoyed playing with each other and we’ll enjoy it tomorrow.”

Kaymer didn’t seem put off.

He said when he won the 2010 PGA Championship at Whistling Straits, the gallery was clearly on the side of Bubba Watson.

“When you’re trying to win a big tournament, usually the big tournaments you play them in American,” said Kaymer, a 29-year-old German. “So I’m always a foreigner. It’s a good challenge. It’s another challenge of that day. It’s not easy, but I know what’s going to happen. I know what I can expect, and therefore it’s OK.”

Kaymer did OK in his last Ryder Cup. He beat Steve Stricker on the 18th hole to ensure Europe kept the Ryder Cup.

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SECONDARY CUT: Because more than 78 made the cut, the PGA Tour’s 54-hole cut was in effect. With a course like the TPC Sawgrass, making it to Sunday was more about not moving down than moving up.

Of the 19 players who made the 36-hole cut on the number (even-par 144), 15 of them advanced.

Ernie Els appeared to be one of them until hitting his second shot into the water on the par-5 16th and his tee shot into the water on the 18th. Those two double bogeys gave him a 75, and after signing his card, he said it was time to leave — or words to that affect. Els wound up missing the secondary cut by one shot.

Jeff Overton and Joost Luiten were at 2-under 142 going into Saturday. Overton shot 83 and Luiten shot 82, and both were on their way out of town. Also gone was Rickie Fowler, who had a 78, and Jonas Blixt, a runner-up at the Masters. He shot 77.

___

NO 1 CHASE: Even after a sluggish start, the race for No. 1 in the world is alive and well Sunday at The Players.

Adam Scott needed a birdie on the ninth hole Friday just to make the cut. He shot 69 on Saturday to move into a tie for 28th. Scott, depending on what the others do, could replace Tiger Woods atop the world ranking with at least a two-way tie for 16th.

Henrik Stenson, Bubba Watson and Matt Kuchar were tied for 13th, seven shots out of the lead.

Stenson would need to finish in a two-way tie for sixth or better. Watson has to finish alone in second. Kuchar would have to win.

Kuchar is the only player entered in the Byron Nelson Championship next week.

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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