The USGA's Merion Problem

When the USGA awarded Merion the 2013 U.S. Open, most of the discussion centered around logistics and the financial hit the organization would take when playing at such an intimate venue.

But in light of Congressional's low scoring brought on by soft conditions that could just as easily be seen at Merion, I'm having a hard time envisioning how a course 5-600 yards shorter than Congressional has much chance of providing a challenge short of silly rough and absurd narrowness. After all, Congressional played a very short 7400 yards even with pretty soft landing areas.

To be more blunt: I just don't see how a U.S. Open is going to work at Merion unless equipment rules have been changed by 2013. And we know that's not going to happen!