Mike,
If you think the changes were only made for 4 days of competition, you don't know Oakmont members very well.
As for the tees, I agree that a couple (#7 back tee in particular) are not good, but really, they are just tees.
The good things that were done far outnumber the bad in my opinion.
John,
I'll admit guilty as charged as far as not knowing the Oakmont members very well, but I'm also aware of the ongoing history of periodically toughening the course, as well as the pride (sick and sadistic as it may be
) they take in the difficulty of their course.
That being said, I'm still going to decry permanent narrowing of fairways that are, and always have been, penally protected on both sides, and I'm also going to say that from an aesthetic point of view, I don't like the very unnatural, contrived look of the bunker shaping.
I said it about Merion in my backyard, and I'd be hypocritical to not say the same thing about these thick grass faced bunkers that look nothing like anything in Oakmont's illustrious history.
But, I'm also certain that I don't know Oakmont anywhere near as well as I'd like to, so I'd certainly like to hear about the changes that have taken place that have improved the course.
Hope things are going well for you back west, John!