This tournament would be one of the all time greatest tournaments ever if they actually shortened up the course, widened up the fairways and rolled the damn ball back 15%.
It's all about the firm and fast. It has nothing to do with the lengthening.
Hell, the course was long last year, but it played soft, and we didn't hear any of this whining.
I am not sure if they played every hole off the back tees last year. Have they played solely off the back tees this year?
I can't see a lot wrong with the lengthening now that they have done it. Playing at 7,500 this year can't be any different than playing at 6900 for last 50 years of the 20th century.
You could keep the length and make it more interesting just by decreasing rough, trees, and altering pin positions, avoiding the whole tournament ball controversy.