OK, here's a first had report after witnessing play today:
Fairways have indeed been narrowed, but they are all closer to 40 than 30 yards wide; this would be considered generous by PGA Tour standards. Any narrower and the bunkers would be way too far inside the rough line.
Rough is a nonfactor. It is annual rye overseed and completely whispy, not too deep just off the fairway (1-2 inches) and 6 inches deep at its worst. You would have to stray very far off the centerline to encounter a severe lie.
There is almost no greenside rough; many closely mowed aprons which lead to chipping areas. One would be unlucky to be buried deep in the hay just off the green.
Pin placements were 6 easy, 6 medium, 6 hard. This is obviously not the PGA Tour, where they have resorted to 18 hard these days. I've played Torrey the day after the event and they are all tough there. Todays difficult pins were: 5 right over the front left bunker just past the downslope, 7 front right just on the green, 9 just over the front bunker just past the downslope, 13 far left about 8 feet from the edge, 16 front right, 17 front right also.
The greens aren't any where near mushy, but players are making ball marks and stopping the ball downwind out of the rough with little problem. They're rolling beautifully; if you pick the right line you will make quite a few putts.
I followed John Riegger (16th on the ML) and Argentinian Miguel Carballa who won the Panama Event. Both players struck the ball well; Barbolio barely missed 1 fairway as his tee shot kicked a litte right when it landed on #2, he ended up in the first cut which was inconsequential. Riegger went through the faiway twice on 12 and 15; both times he hit PW for his second and had little trouble stopping the ball. Both players reached the par 5 1st and 13th and made birdie. On the 580 yard 17th their 300 yard drives forced them to layup, Barbolio converted his birdie. Carballo birdied 8 and Riegger 9 for their only non par 5 birdies. Carballo went through the 6th with a 5 iron and ended up in the back bunker; even landing in the fringe he almost rolled off the green for their only bogey of the day. Both players could have been 5-6 shots lower if they made any putts; they each shot 68.
In summary this is the anti US Open setup, wide fairways with little penal rough allowing the players to display their skills. Although the greens are by no means easy to read or execute on, putts and scores can be made. Shackelford must be smiling back in LA!