United States Golf Association executive director Mike Davis described the 2016 U.S. Open course at Oakmont Country Club as “tough,â€? “challenging,â€? and a “test.â€? In other words, not much has changed. Previewing the 116th U.S. Open — Oakmont’s ninth — on Monday, Davis outlined a couple of minor changes to the course since Angel Cabrera hoisted the championship trophy in 2007, noting its yardage, fairway contours and general hole locations are unchanged. One change was to the setup to a few of what Davis called the course’s “penal bunkersâ€? flanking drive zones. In the past, thicker grass on steep hillsides might have stopped balls short of bunkers, forcing golfers to play their next shots on an incline. This year, bunkers more often could be used as intended. “The balls actually roll down into the bunker instead of getting stuck on a very steep hillside,â€? Davis said. “That’s more of the way (course architect Henry C. Fownes) would’ve wanted the architecture to be.â€? Davis said Oakmont also has returned more closely to Fownes’ original course design over the past couple of decades by removing trees. “This was pasture land. When they bought it, they wanted it to resemble a links-like course,â€?’ Davis said. “Not only has the club done that, but they have done a few restoration things architecturally.â€? The first of those specific alterations came on the par-3 sixth hole, where the back-right portion of the green has expanded, allowing organizers to play with a few different hole locations. In addition, two bunkers to the front-left of the par-5 12th hole — the course’s longest at either 632 or 667 yards, depending on which of the hole’s two tee locations is used — have been removed since the last U.S. Open at Oakmont.. Davis said the bunkers, which had been added in since the original design, “in some ways compromised the architecture of the hole.â€? “I think that what’s interesting about 12 at Oakmont is it’s not only a challenging drive. If you played here, you know that green,â€? Davis said. “It slopes front to back and just trying to keep it on the green is hard.â€? The biggest potential U.S. Open variable could stem from something the USGA can’t control — weather. In 2007, damp conditions the Wednesday before the first round of the tournament led to soft greens Thursday. A dry Friday, Saturday and Sunday mixed with a breeze made for a challenging course, which has been common over Oakmont’s 97-year history of hosting USGA championships. “(Oakmont and the USGA) have been good friends since 1919 when we held our first of 15 USGA championships at this lovely course,â€? USGA president Diana Murphy said. “We certainly feel like we’re coming home here.â€? Andrew Erickson is a Tribune-Review staff writer. Reach him at aerickson@tribweb.com or via Twitter @AErickson_Trib. Email Newsletters TribLIVE's Daily and Weekly email newsletters deliver the news you want and information you need, right to your inbox.