If you could only use one word to describe how Torrey Pines Golf Course will play during next month's U.S. Open, here's the word: Long.

When Tiger Woods and the rest of the players in the field look down at their scorecard starting on June 12, the number 7,643 is sure to jump out at every player. That's the total yardage for the par-71 layout.

According to Mike Davis, senior director of rules and competitions for the United States Golf Association, that is 379 yards longer than any U.S. Open course has ever played.

When Davis and Jim Hyler, who is on the USGA's competition committee, were planning the layout for the 2008 Open, they didn't set out to have a 7,600-yard golf course.

"We went to each hole and thought what is the best setup for that particular hole," Davis said. "You add up the 18 numbers and that's what your yardage is."

Davis said that number is a bit deceiving because they juggle tee boxes each day, so players probably will never play every hole from the tips.

"My guess is most days you'll see it play somewhere in the neighborhood of 74 (hundred) and change up to 75 and change," Davis said. "We feel mixing the teeing grounds really adds another test."

And a challenge is exactly what the USGA sets out to provide players each time the Open is contested.

Hyler said starting in 2006, the USGA established a setup philosophy that is designed to be a rigorous test of golf, but one that is fair.

"Contrary to what a lot of people think, there is no target winning score," Hyler said. "We are not trying to protect par or produce over-par final scores."

Between the length and the San Diego climate that is allowing some deep, nasty rough to be grown, there's no worry from the USGA's perspective that Torrey Pines won't be a stern test of golf to match any of the previous 107 U.S. Opens that have been contested.

Davis believes if it wanted to, the USGA could turn Torrey Pines into a nightmare for players.

"I can promise you this golf course could be set up significantly harder," Davis said.

Davis said plenty of people voiced concern about Torrey being a difficult enough test after Woods won this year's Buick Invitational at 19 under, including 12 under during three rounds on Torrey Pines' South Course.

But Davis said the course Woods and others will play next month will be much different than the one that Woods tore up in January.

One difference will be the firmness of the golf course. Balls are going to roll farther on the fairways and greens will be much firmer, making it more challenging for players to get shots close to the flag and even stay on the putting surface.

Players venturing off the fairway will be forced to battle with kikuyu grass. Because kikuyu doesn't grow in the winter, it's not around during the Buick. But it will be in full force in June.

"It's such a thick, coarse bladed grass that it's very hard to get a club through it," Davis said.

The rough is always a topic when talking about the U.S. Open and it figures to be a factor again this year.

In the past two Opens (Winged Foot and Oakmont, respectively), Davis believes he and his team made a mistake in letting the rough closest to the fairway grow too long.

So they will have a first cut of rough that will allow players a chance to not just chop out, but actually make a play to the green.

"We really want to show the players' skills," Davis said. "We saw too many examples at Oakmont and Winged Foot that guys were just chopping out of it. That's not what we wanted.

"I think we came this year knowing that Torrey is going to be a long golf course, knowing that it's going to be firm, and said, If we're going to err on the first cut, we're going to err because it was too short.'"

Davis has asked San Diego City Golf Manager Mark Woodward, the man who runs Torrey Pines for the city, to cut the rough twice the last few weeks - leaving it at 2 inches for the first 15 feet next to the fairway.

"That's low rough," Davis said. "You look back in the history of the U.S. Open rough, and (this) almost doesn't look like U.S. Open rough."

Once on the greens, players will get a surface that runs 1 to 2 feet faster on the Stimpmeter than it does in the Buick.

"That is a significant difference," Davis said. "It's really going to bring the undulations alive."

To add additional intrigue, Davis said the USGA is considering creating a risk-reward par-4 hole that would be similar to the drivable 17th at Oakmont last year that was the downfall of several contenders in Angel Cabrera's victory.

Davis declined to identify the hole because he said it was still under consideration.

With the Open starting in 29 days, Davis and the USGA are thrilled with the condition of the course.

"This is the best we've ever seen it," Davis said.

"You're seeing the U.S. Open course (right now). There's not going to be drastic change other than the mow heights and firmness of the course."