SEVEN YEARS ago, when the US Open was last held here on the Black Course, some players were – quite literally – brought to their knees. This time, their prayers for a somewhat easier course set-up appear to have been answered, with the extra length – a further 212 yards – offset by wider fairways and a graduated series of rough off the fairways.

Not that some players will get to find out. Shingo Katayama yesterday became the fourth player who had qualified to withdraw from the major which gets under way on Thursday.

The Japanese player, who finished fourth at the US Masters in April, withdrew due to a back injury.

He joins last year’s US Masters champion Trevor Immelman (tendonitis in his left wrist and elbow), Robert Karlsson (eye infection) and Dudley Hart (back) on the list of absentees.

Sixteen holes have been nipped and tucked for this championship by course architect Rees Jones, with only the second and 17th holes surviving as they were from 2002 when Tiger Woods won the championship.

The biggest change? Unquestionably the 10th, a par four of 508 yards.

In the 2002 US Open, when the temperature dropped and rain prevented any run, a large number of players failed to even reach the fairway here. At that time, it demanded a carry of over 260 yards.

For this year’s championship, the fairway has been cut into the rough and brought 40 yards closer to the tee box. The carry is now 224 yards from an enlarged and slightly lengthened tee.

While the addition of new tees has added 212 yards to the course, the USGA have the option of reverting to the old teeing grounds if, as forecast, the weather threatens to play spoilsport during the week.

The course has already been softened by recent rain and further rain with the threat of thunderstorms is predicted.

However, the course improvements and a more generous set-up mean that players, regardless of the weather, are unlikely to face as tough a course or conditions as was the case in 2002.

Bethpage Black:

Changes to the course since 2002

Hole 1

Fairway widened in the landing area and leading into the green.

Hole 3

New tee, making the par three, at 232 yards, 27 yards longer.

Hole 4

Fairway narrowed at lay-up area to bring bunkers more into play, with pine trees behind the green removed.

Hole 5

New tee, making the hole 27 yards longer.

Hole 6

Primary rough removed on hillside at landing area.

Hole 7

New tee, adding 36 yards to hole, but with option of using old tee.

Hole 8

Green brought closer to pond, recapturing AW Tillinghast’s original design.

Hole 9

New tee, adding 42 yards.

Hole 10

New tee adding 13 yards, but carry to fairway reduced from 260 yards to 224 yards.

Hole 11

Fairway widened to the right of landing zone.

Hole 12

Rough replaced with fairway at cross bunkers.

Hole 13

New tee, increasing the hole by 51 yards to 605 yards.

Hole 14

Green enlarged to create a back tier, enabling three potential new hole locations.

Hole 15

Fairway widened and dogleg made less extreme.

Hole 16

Tee enlarged, adding 11 yards.

Hole 18

Fairway widened around landing area.