I have read this thread with interest and, as usual, agree with some comments and disagree with others. Let me relate play by one match on the first hole during last year's US Amateur to provide some idea of why at least some of the changes are being made.
I was fortunate enough to be a rules official at the tournament and in the second round of match play refereed a match that ended up going to extra holes. On the first extra hole both players hit identical and ideal drives long and down the left side of the fairway. Both knew the course well, they had played it at least 4 times by then, and knew they could not land their second shots on the green and have any hope of remaining. They also knew that, because of the tilt to the fairway directly in front of the green, they would need to start the ball right and land it well short. Both hit what seemed to be perfect approach shots. In fact, I was concerned they may have played too far right and would be in the rough. I was standing with the players as they discussed their shots with their caddies before they played their seconds and walked with them after they played their shots. Both, in my view, correctly analyzed their situation and options, and selected the correct course of action.
Of course, the balls of both players landed short and right, rolled across the green and rolled down the bank to the left of the green and ended approximately 70 - 80 yards from the hole. On that day it was not physically possible to have a ball come to rest on the first green in two strokes. In fact, I do not believe it was possible to end up within 50 yards of the green and not be in deep rough.
Now some may not have a problem with that outcome but IMO champions should be identified by their ability to think correctly and execute correctly and on that hole the person who did both met the same fate as someone who blindly played two shots without proper analysis or execution.
Based on what I saw, the changes to #1 are welcome.