[Daryl]

Hard greens and narrow fairways I like. 500+ par 4's I think are a little over the top for me. I can see it now Brian Gay Driver, Driver, chip, and a putt. If more than a couple of players, (PGA players), not just qualifiers cannot reach some of these par 4's in two shots they should rethink those holes.

(nodding head in agreement) But, it seems to be set up as a "skills test" more than winning by managing risk/reward and playing great. Though, I admit that these guys are so great that a punishing golf course set-up may be the only alternative.

When I think about Links style courses with the Scrub Rough including bushes, bunkers, OB markers, Wind, rain and cold, Risk/reward decisions are that much more important to winning. And if it were Match Play (which also lends identical moment by moment conditions), then a fascinating competition could develop. In the real world, like "Match Play" one bad hole doesn't take you out of the running.

So, I guess then, one way or another, the US Open is a game of "Survival of the Fittest".