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Champions Tour players expect wet, cool weather

By WTOP Staff

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — Tom Watson gives an edge to the long hitters at rain-soaked Shoal Creek.

Watson figures guys like Bernhard Langer, Kenny Perry and Fred Couples could have an easier time of it on some holes in rainy, chilly and windy weather at the $2.2 million Regions Tradition starting Thursday. It is the first of the Champions Tour’s five major championships.

“The par 5s really play into their hands,” Watson said on Wednesday. “The rest of us, we’re stretching it getting to the par 5s, especially when it gets wet.

“With the predicted rains, it will be tough to get to these par 5s. But Kenny and Freddie Couples shouldn’t have a lot of problem.”

Then there’s Langer, who has already won twice this season and reached 20 victories on the 50-and-over tour.

“The way Bernhard Langer is going, we need to break his leg,” Watson joked.

The weather could once again have a big impact on the scenic 7,145-yard, par-72 Shoal Creek course.

Rain shortened the pro-ams on Wednesday with more showers expected on Thursday and temperatures possibly plunging into the 40s over the weekend.

Play was twice suspended in last year’s Tradition, the second straight year rain and/or lightning had affected the tournament.

It remains to be seen if rain can slow down Langer, coming off his third victory at the Insperity Invitational and finishing eighth at the Masters.

“The rain will make the course play much longer,” the German said. “The rough will be heavier because of the wet grass. The greens will be a little bit slower. I’d rather see the other conditions, but I’ve played well in all sorts of conditions. You just have to adjust and do the best with what you find.”

Langer finished second behind two-time winner Tom Lehman in 2012 and 10th last year.

He beat Couples by a stroke at The Woodlands in Texas on May 4. David Frost held on for a one-stroke win over Couples last year at Shoal Creek.

Couples opened the season tying for second with Jeff Sluman in Hawaii, behind Langer.

“Fred Couples made it pretty clear, I think, in Hawaii, that he’s trying to win the Schwab Cup, so we’re trying to give him some competition here and make it hard for him,” Langer said.

Fellow World Golf Hall of Famers Watson and Colin Montgomerie aren’t as well acquainted with the course as some of their peers.

Watson, a two-time Masters champion, is competing in the Tradition for the first time since the event’s debut at Shoal Creek in 2011. He finished tied for 32nd.

His history with the course goes back a few decades, though, to the 1984 PGA championship won by Lee Trevino.

Watson said the Bermuda rough was so deep “they had three marshals on each side of the fairways because you could lose your golf ball.”

“Lee Trevino, it was right in his wheelhouse,” he said. “He hit the ball so straight off the tee, and he just rarely missed a fairway. And that’s what you had to do on this golf course.”

Montgomerie of Scotland is nearing his anniversary on the 50-and-over tour and makes his Shoal Creek debut. He said the course has a good reputation.

“I’ve heard a lot about it,” Montgomerie said. “You talk about you’re going to Alabama and then you say ‘Shoal Creek’ and everybody in golf knows where you’re going or where you’ve been. This is one of those classic courses. Having played nine holes (Tuesday) and nine holes today, I understand what they’re talking about. A very, very good golf course.

“You can drive the ball great but at the same time it’s more of a second-shot course where I can see there are some pins in awkward places — backside, middle, front, whatever. It will be a great test. I’m looking forward to trying to challenge this course.”

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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