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McIlroy coping with breakup, shoots 68

By WTOP Staff

BERNIE McGUIRE
Associated Press

VIRGINIA WATER, England (AP) — Rory McIlroy says he hasn’t turned on his phone and doesn’t have his laptop as he copes with his breakup from Caroline Wozniacki.

A day after he revealed the sports stars canceled wedding plans and ended their five-month engagement, McIlroy overcame an uneasy appearance and rain delays with one of his best rounds at Wentworth, a 4-under-par 68 to open the BMW PGA Championship on Thursday.

It was his second lowest in 17 rounds on the famed West Course, and just the fourth occasion in the European Tour’s flagship event he broke 70.

He threw up his arms in delight after holing out from 130 yards for eagle at the par-four 7th hole, and after landing a 203-yard, 5-iron second shot to six inches of the par-five 12th hole.

He still trailed first-round clubhouse leader Thomas Bjorn by eight shots, and was in no mood to play up his score.

McIlroy was asked by reporters if he had spoken to Sergio Garcia, after the Spaniard offered a comforting shoulder to the Northern Irishman, given Garcia endured two high-profile relationship bustups with tennis great Martina Hingis, and Morgan-Leigh Norman, the daughter of Greg Norman.

“No, I haven’t spoken with Sergio even though I did see him a couple of days ago,” McIlroy said.

“Also, I haven’t turned on my phone for a few days, and I’ve given my laptop away. I’m sort of living like I’m in the ’70s again.

“It’s a good thing Sergio offered to speak to me. It’s nice, but he hasn’t, but then everyone … look, everyone goes through it. It’s part of life and it’s tough. You know, people that have come up to me have been very supportive, and it’s been nice.”

McIlroy was also quizzed why, after releasing a statement on the split with Wozniacki, he went ahead with a news conference on the eve of the BMW PGA Championship.

“It was played out in the media so much that it was probably the best way to do it,” he said. “It was just a natural thing to do I guess.

“But while I’m sleeping well, it’s still tough. I’m not really that comfortable with standing here talking about it.”

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 This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.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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