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5 things to watch for at the US Open

By WTOP Staff

PAUL NEWBERRY
AP National Writer

PINEHURST, N.C. (AP) — Other than the shock of seeing weeds sprouting at the edge of the fairways, this U.S. Open should be like any other.

One tough test.

The rustic, unkempt look of Pinehurst No. 2 has been a major topic leading into Thursday’s opening round, the lush, green rough replaced by sandy areas dotted with small wiregrass bushes and covered in natural vegetation — what the rest of us would call weeds.

The Donald Ross masterpiece now looks a lot like it did in its original state, and those turtleback greens are as testy as ever, repelling balls that dare venture anywhere close to the flag.

“It’s set up as the ultimate test of golf, like the U.S. Open always is,” said Rory McIlroy, the last winner to break par with his romp at Congressional in 2011. “I’m relishing the challenge of grinding out pars and having to get it up and down when I need to.”

Webb Simpson and Justin Rose won the last two titles with scores over par. The last time three straight winners failed to get into the red numbers was 1957-59.

Other than the challenging course, which is hosting the U.S. Open for the third time in 16 years, here are five things to look for in the sand hills of North Carolina:

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LEFTY’S LAMENT: Now that he’s got a claret jug in the trophy case, Phil Mickelson will take another crack at the only major title to elude him. The U.S. Open has been especially cruel to Lefty, the runner-up a record six times — the first a dramatic loss at Pinehurst to Payne Stewart in 1999 — without capturing even one title. It happened again in 2013 at Merion, where Mickelson was in the mix until England’s Justin Rose struck a dramatic 4-iron with his approach at the 72nd hole to clinch his first major championship. Only five players have won the modern version of the career Grand Slam: Gene Sarazen, Ben Hogan, Gary Player, Jack Nicklaus and Tiger Woods. Mickelson has won the Masters three times, along with a PGA Championship and last year’s British Open title, setting himself up to join a very exclusive club. But he hasn’t won in 11 months, struggling with a shaky putter, and the only headlines recently have been off the course. Mickelson has been linked to an insider trading probe involving investor Carl Icahn and gambler Billy Walters. No one has been charged.

DOUBLING UP: The U.S. Open hasn’t had a repeat winner since Curtis Strange a quarter-century ago. The only other golfers to do it in the past century are all Hall of Famers: Ben Hogan (1950-51), Ralph Guldahl (1937-38) and Bobby Jones (1929-30). Rose is the lone player with a chance to break into that exclusive club this year. The Englishman has turned in some strong results in recent weeks, ripping off three straight top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour before he stumbled in his last tournament, missing the cut at the Memorial. He knows it will be a tough task to defend his title, but likes the chances of the 11 English players in the field better than he does their country’s World Cup squad. And if Rose wins, Strange plans to be one of the first to congratulate the repeat winner.

BIG MAC ATTACK: Like Mickelson, Rory McIlroy has been making headlines off the course — he recently called off his engagement to tennis star Caroline Wozniacki. The 25-year-old McIlroy has lowered his social media profile in an attempt to bring a bit more privacy to his very public life. Still, the Northern Irishman must prove that he can grind out major championships in the toughest of conditions, a trait that served players such as Nicklaus and Woods so well. When McIlroy plays well, he’s essentially unbeatable. He cruised to eight-stroke wins for both of his major titles, the 2011 U.S. Open and the 2012 PGA.

UNLIKELY WINNERS: In recent years, the U.S. Open has produced first-time champions from the ranks of the solid-if-not-spectacular players. Think Lucas Glover in 2009, Graeme McDowell the following year, and Simpson in 2012. If that trend holds up, keep an eye on Matt Kuchar, who won the Heritage and has nine top-10 finishes this season. Thirty-five-year-old Jimmy Walker is a three-time winner this season and leads the FedEx Cup standings. Brandt Snedeker has struggled this year, but is perennially a contender in the majors.

TIGER-FREE ZONE: One player who certainly won’t win this year: Woods. The 14-time major champion hasn’t played in more than three months after having back surgery, and it’s not known when he’ll be able to return. Woods’ last major title came at the 2008 U.S. Open, leaving him four major titles behind Nicklaus’ record. Since then, a failed marriage and a series of injuries have raised serious doubts that he’ll be able to catch the Golden Bear.

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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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