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Making Torrey Pines a par 70 for next year's U.S. Open. I don't know of any weak par 5's on that course. It should remain a par 72. It is extremely questionable to convert the 18th to a par 4. It is a great risk-reward par 5 and over 570 yards.

Having Merion host the 2013 US Open instead of the Country Club at Brookline. The USGA could have delayed Merion until 2014 or 2015. It is a crime that they overlooked the Country Club as it would have been the 100th anniversary of Ouimet's victory. The course hosted the 1963 and 1988 US Opens to celebrate respective 50th and 75th anniversaries.

I think I mentioned it in another thread but you really have your facts down.

I don't get why they turn par 72 courses into par 70 either. It's still the same golf course. Has the USGA said they would make Torrey Pines play at par 70? I'm sure that one par 5 you mentioned wouldn't play at 570 yards if it was turned into a par 4 but I would like to see it played at full length as a par 5. Like you said, risk/reward is fun to watch.

Also, didn't know that about Brookline. Interesting and again, I agree with you.

It is my home course. I think that Torrey will be par 70. The par 5 sixth hole will be a long par 4. They took out all the trees on the right side of the fairway so you can cut the corner quite easily now. Number 18 will be a par 4, they changed the trap on the right by making it flater so you can still go for the green in two from it. They also changed the elevation of the 18th fairway so it is flatter. The par five 13th has a new tee going in which will make it a killer par 5; 250 carry over the canyon just to get it to the rough and about 270 to the fairway. From there, 250 to the green. They have killed all the grass from tee to green and replanted/re-sodded with kikuyu. The greens are looking great. Many, many non-torrey pines trees have been removed opening it more to the wind. It will play real tough although the greens will probably not be as penal as Oakmont's greens. However, the greens were designed specifically for the Open so there will be more severe breaks if you are not on one of the four quadrants where the pins will be placed. All in all, should play a couple of shots easier than Oakmont--winner should be right at par or a couple over.