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Bubba looks for title shot at new Greenbrier home

By WTOP Staff

JOHN RABY
AP Sports Writer

WHITE SULPHUR SPRINGS, W.Va. (AP) — To get ready for this week’s tournament, Bubba Watson simply has to walk out his front door.

Watson moved his family a month ago into a home built at The Greenbrier, the resort in West Virginia that has hosted royalty and U.S. presidents — and now has its resident Bubba.

“It’s nice sleeping in your own bed,” Watson said.

He’ll tee it up in the Greenbrier Classic starting Thursday on the par-70 Old White TPC.

Watson first learned about the stately resort from 2011 tournament winner Scott Stallings, who extolled its warm, relaxed setting. Watson played in the tournament for the first time last year, finishing eight shots behind winner Jonas Blixt.

Shortly after, Watson joined the resort’s staff of professional golfers and broke ground on the new house.

“We looked at what West Virginia has to offer,” he said. “You have a family atmosphere, many things to do besides golf. The mountains are nice views. So when you add that all up, it becomes an easy place to decide to move to.”

When asked if he’s now a West Virginian, Watson replied, “I’m not sure. But I like it so far. So hopefully, everybody else likes me.”

In addition to playing five rounds on Old White in the past two weeks, Watson tweeted pictures of himself fishing in a nearby river and pond, getting up-close looks at black bears and looking over the New Orleans Saints’ preseason training camp facility under construction at the resort.

The Greenbrier has taken full advantage of Watson’s presence.

On the two-lane road that winds into White Sulphur Springs, the two-time Masters champion and NBA Hall of Famer Jerry West, who also has a home at The Greenbrier, share an advertising billboard that reads “Live Where Legends Do.”

“You’re talking about a legend in his sport, and then there is me,” Watson said. “Basically, it’s like I won the lotto and they put my picture up next to his. … I should be on the other side of the street facing the other way where nobody sees it.”

Watson, at No. 3 in the world, is the top-ranked player in the Greenbrier Classic field. Others include No. 17 Jimmy Walker, No. 18 Steve Stricker and No. 25 Keegan Bradley. Jason Day at No. 6 withdrew with a recurring thumb injury.

Walker is coming off a two-week break after the U.S. Open. He has top 5 finishes in three of the four previous Greenbrier Classics, including a runner-up finish last year.

“It’s a golf course that I really like,” he said.

The FedEx Cup points leader seemed more concerned about chasing after his two young sons along the massive Greenbrier hotel’s long hallways than being pursued in the standings.

“I get more teased than anything about being on top,” Walker said.

Among other golfers in the Greenbrier field worth keeping an eye on is Brendon Todd. The winner at the Byron Nelson Championship in May, Todd has three other top 10 finishes since then.

“I think my short game’s been a little bit sharper here in the last two months and that’s probably been the difference maker,” said Todd, who will be paired with Watson in the first two rounds.

Last week at Congressional, Todd was tied for the lead in the final round until a double bogey in the water on the 10th hole. He finished two strokes behind champion Justin Rose.

The five-year-old tournament has had close finishes every time. It went to playoffs in 2012 and 2011, and Stuart Appleby shot 59 to win by a stroke in 2010.

A year ago, Blixt came from four shots back to win by two strokes. He credits the resort’s surroundings for keeping him calm.

“That Sunday a year ago here, I didn’t feel any nerves really,” he said. “It was just such a soothing kind of place. It just gives you good vibes when you get here.”

Ten winners on Tour this season are entered, as well as the four past champions of the tournament and 16 former major champions, including Nick Faldo and Tom Watson, the Greenbrier’s golf pro emeritus.

Among the top 12 on the final leaderboard, the four best finishers not previously eligible for the British Open will earn spots in the July 17-20 tournament at Royal Liverpool.

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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