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Kaymer and everyone else at the US Open

By WTOP Staff

PAUL NEWBERRY
AP National Writer

PINEHURST, N.C. (AP) — This looks like a typical U.S. Open.

Except for Martin Kaymer.

He appears to be playing an entirely different course.

Kaymer set the 36-hole scoring record at the U.S. Open on Friday with another 5-under 65 — this one without a single bogey — to build a six-shot lead over Brendon Todd and leave the rest of the field wondering if anyone had a chance to catch the 29-year-old German at Pinehurst No. 2.

“If you take Martin out of it,” said defending champion Justin Rose, “it’s a great golf tournament.”

Kaymer was at 10-under 130, breaking by one shot the record set by Rory McIlroy at rain-softened Congressional in 2011.

“I heard he played the No. 3 course. Is that true?” Kevin Na said after a 69 put him seven shots behind. “It’s unbelievable what he’s done. Is 4 or 5 under out there? Yes. Ten under out there? No, I don’t think so. I guess it was out there for him. I watched some of the shots he hit and some of the putts he’s made and he looks flawless.”

The six-shot lead after 36 holes tied the U.S. Open record first set by Tiger Woods at Pebble Beach in 2000 and matched by McIlroy at Congressional. Woods wound up winning by 15 shots. McIlroy won by eight.

“I played Congressional and I thought, ‘How can you shoot that low?’ And that’s probably what a lot of other people think about me right now,” Kaymer said.

Todd, who won the Byron Nelson Championship last month for his first PGA Tour win, made some tough par saves to keep bogeys off his card for a 67. He will play in the final group Saturday in his first U.S. Open.

Brandt Snedeker had a 68 and joined Na at 3-under 137.

Phil Mickelson was 13 shots behind after going back to his conventional putting grip and giving up too many shots. He had a 73.

Essentially, this tournament comes down to Kaymer.

“If he does it for two more days, then we’re all playing for second spot,” Adam Scott said.

Beyond Kaymer’s dominance, here’s five things to look for in the third round:

PINEHURST BITE: With heavy rains softening the greens, Pinehurst No. 2 has played a bit easier than expected. Still, there are only 13 players under par at the midway point in the tournament, and those pin positions aren’t going to get any easier on the weekend. If the rain holds off, the turtleback greens will firm up even more, making it tough to go at the flag with abandon. At that point, it becomes more about damage control than putting up low numbers, perhaps improving the odds of closing the gap on the leader.

MAJOR INEXPERIENCE: Kaymer’s closest pursuers don’t have a lot of major championships on their resume. Of the next 18 players in the standings, only three have captured one of golf’s biggest titles. Keegan Bradley (2011 PGA Championship) was eight shots back at 138, Rory McIlroy (2011 U.S. Open, 2012 PGA Championship) was another stroke behind, and Adam Scott (2013 Masters) faced a daunting 10-stroke deficit. For now, the leader doesn’t have to worry about a bunch of major winners in his rear-view mirror.

LEFTY’S PUTTER: Mickelson abandoned the claw grip in hopes of improving his putting stroke. It didn’t work. He had four three-putts on Friday and has taken 65 swings with the short stick over the first two days, leaving him tied for 135th in the tournament rankings. No wonder he said the “hole looks like a thimble to me right now.” A daunting 13 shots off the lead, Mickelson will spend the weekend more concerned with steadying his stroke on the green than making any sort of serious run for his first U.S. Open title.

BACK TO BACK: Like anyone not named Kaymer, Rose’s hopes of winning the title look rather bleak at the moment. But at least he’s still in the game. The defending champ shot 69 on Friday for a 1-over 141, leaving him 11 strokes off the lead. He’ll need to make a big move Saturday to have any hope of chasing down Kaymer. There hasn’t been a repeat winner at the U.S. Open since Curtis Strange in 1988-89.

KID IS ALL RIGHT: Nineteen-year-old Matthew Fitzpatrick is playing on the weekend in another major championship. The 2013 U.S. Amateur winner shot 71-73 to become the lone amateur to make the cut. Last year, he played in the British Open at Muirfield, finishing tied for 44th to earn the silver medal as low amateur. The other 10 not-for-pay players failed to advance at Pinehurst No. 2: Cory Whitsett, Hunter Stewart and Brian Campbell (all at 146) missed the cut by a single stroke. The others were farther back.

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Follow Paul Newberry on Twitter at www.twitter.com/pnewberry1963

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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