SCLarry: I'm new to WGT and want to get some practice in before jumping into the tournaments and competitions.
Don't be shy to enter tournaments, albeit the free ones. High socres that you might fear have no negative effect, except in the useless stats. Nobody will see those high numbers in placement but yourself, and the scoring history is purged after 200 scores.
But, in this "practice" you'll be faced with "real" conditions of your tier, and you'll collect higher XPs, important for high levels and the chance to buy good equipment.