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Old magic missing for ‘scared’ Faldo

By WTOP Staff

STEVE DOUGLAS
AP Sports Writer

ABERDEEN, Scotland (AP) — When his 40-foot eagle putt wound its way along the undulating sixth green and straight into the cup, golf suddenly felt easy again for Nick Faldo.

Britain’s most successful player had just picked up four shots in three holes and was even in sight of the leaders at the Scottish Open on Friday.

Not bad for a 56-year-old playing just his sixth competitive round this year.

Then it all went wrong.

“I made a couple of bad swings and it just scared me,” Faldo said, shaking his head. “I didn’t know what to do for a while.”

One of his country’s great sporting treasures, Faldo left the sanctuary of a TV studio — he is a golf analyst in the United States — to take up an invitation from the Scottish Open this week ahead of a 36th appearance at the British Open.

It’s his first European Tour event since 2010, but he is likely to miss the cut on 4-over 146 after two rounds.

The game that brought him six major titles from 1987-96 is just not there anymore. And he knows it.

“You hit shots that you aren’t 100 percent sure where they are going to go,” Faldo said. “I’m here on curiosity, that’s the bottom line.”

Massaging his right forearm and stretching his hamstrings after his round, the strain of playing 36 holes in barely 24 hours over a windy links course clearly took its toll on Faldo.

He hasn’t played full-time on the European Tour since 2004 and says he is in northern Scotland purely for the “love of the game.” The stalwart also wants some practice so he doesn’t embarrass himself at Hoylake next week.

“Last year I played Muirfield straight out of the box, I hadn’t played competitively for three years,” he said. “I thought, ‘If you are being smart, let’s play a couple before the Open so at least you don’t arrive there completely cold.’

“I played last week, this week. You are learning a few more little bits all the time. Still learning.”

It was vintage Faldo early in his round on Friday, making birdies at Nos. 4 and 5 and then rolling in that eagle at No. 6. It put him on 2-under-par but he dropped six shots in his final 11 holes played mostly into the wind.

“I’m less than a part-time golfer but you still want to play well,” he said. “That’s why I’m playing, to see if I can have a good day or two.”

Faldo has missed the cut in his last five appearances at the British Open, dating to Hoylake in 2006. He won his home major in 1987, ’90 and ’92.

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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