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Well-traveled Koepka playing to stay close to home

By WTOP Staff

JIM LITKE
AP Sports Writer

PINEHURST, N.C. (AP) — So many of the really good stories about Brooks Koepka are about where he’s been. This week, it’s about where he could be going next.

Calling the 24-year-old Florida native’s route to the PGA Tour unconventional doesn’t tell the half of it. Whether Koepka gets to stay here, though, could depend on how well he gets around Pinehurst No. 2 at this U.S. Open. He followed up an even-par opening round with a 68 Friday that left him at 2-under, but still eight shots behind leader Martin Kaymer.

But a strong showing would make Koepka a virtual lock to stick.

“That seems like a long way back, “but just (have to) keep doing what I’m doing and everything should take care of itself,” he said. “I’m playing well. I just keep grinding it out and hopefully we’ll see. Martin seems to be playing a different golf course; 10-under is incredible.

“But just take care of myself,” Koepka added, “and I should be fine come Sunday.”

After missing the cut at the 2012 U.S. Open, then turning pro and failing to get through qualifying school, Koepka decided to try his luck on Europe’s minor-league circuit. He quickly collected four wins and full playing status on the European Tour — as well as 48 pages of government stamps in his passport and almost as many adventures.

He ate horse meat in Kazakhstan and learned how to maneuver through the bureaucracy of a dozen different countries — and almost as many languages — to get a visa.

The last part of his master plan is to play the tours on both sides of the Atlantic. Koepka has already taken advantage of his temporary membership on the PGA Tour to play 10 tournaments on these shores this year. He’s allowed as many sponsor exemptions as he can get, but those have become increasingly hard to get.

Either way, Koepka needs to pick up enough FedEx Cup points by the end of the season to rank 125th on the PGA Tour. Currently, he’s no. 106.

“It’s tough to kind of prepare for a U.S. Open. It’s the hardest golf course you’re going to play all year, in my opinion,” Koepka said. “So it’s really tough to prepare from that aspect. I think … I played well last week (at Memphis), so that was good coming into this. I’m feeling good and just trying to build on it.”

A month of chipping practice with teaching pro Pete Cowen has paid dividends on the humps and hollows surrounding Pinehurst’s tricky turtleback greens. But just as important, Koepka’s ball-striking has spared him a lot of aggravation and his putting has been good enough to get him out of a few tight spots already.

“You just try to take double (bogey) out of play. Double will kill you. You give up two (strokes) on a hole, that’s big, because you’re not making many birdies out here,” he said. “We got in some awkward spots, but was just trying to make bogey and keep grinding it out and leaving the uphill putts.

“For two days now, I haven’t really missed a shot,” he added. “In fairness, I putted pretty well. I just need to keep leaving it in those spots.”

Koepka knows the next two rounds could prove a tough balancing act. Play too aggressively and he risks tumbling down the leaderboard and dropping those precious FedEx Cup points. Play too cautious and he might squander an opportunity to win, especially if Kaymer comes back to the field.

“You never know what can happen. One shot out here, one bad shot could cost you two, maybe three. So you are never too far out of it, I don’t think,” he said, “especially in a U.S. Open.”

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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