"Let me repeat that: The USGA is actually making par go up, not down."

That's the takeaway quote from USGA Media Day at Congressional where Graeme McDowell actually appeared, almost unheard of these days for such events (example #396 of why he's a class act).

AP's Joseph White reports on Congressional stretching to as much as 7,574 yards if the USGA wants it to stretch that far. And there was this about the latest redesign.

Overall, though, the course had to be altered to bring its hazards back into play to match the longer game of today. Davis said his goal was to make it so the golfers would be using the same clubs the architect had in mind when the holes were designed nearly a century ago.

The trick is to do it without altering the character and feel of the place. Ben Brundred Jr., co-chairman of Congressional's U.S. Open committee, knew such changes were inevitable when Tom Kite, at age 55, had the lead after three rounds when the Booz Allen Classic was played there in 2005.

"So what are you going to do?" Brundred said. "You've got a 55-year-old guy that's 40 yards longer than he was in his prime. The holes have to change."