Fast conditions bring rough into play, and long rough is the only thing that can at least partially defend par for the pros. Obviously wind will bring more rough into play. What Merion did for the Open is put hazards (ridiculous rough) in areas that were normally fairway. I see that happening on a number of courses I play on regularly, and for average golfers like myself, it feels "tricked up" if not done intelligently. Aronimink has wide fairways and if the turf is wet, balls will stay in the fairway. The faster the turf, the more narrow (or shorter) the fairway. What most surprised me about what is going on at Aronimink this week (I could only make it to Friday's round) was how little trouble the pros were having with the Ross greens. I think that had a lot to do with the fact that the greens were very, very soft, and therefore the approach shots ended up closer to the pins than if the greens were firmer.