What should we expect from Erin Hills at the 2017 U.S. Open? Nobody really knows the answer to that, which means nobody really knows who to predict when it comes to winning the tournament.

We thought earlier in the week that we would see an incredibly penal golf course on the edges, but the USGA remedied that by whacking down much of the knee-high fescue on Tuesday.

The only thing we're sure of before this tournament starts is that the course will be long. It will be the longest in U.S. Open history, in fact, at 7,741 yards. Other than that, nothing is certain, but here are a few observations on a big ballpark hosting the second major of the PGA Tour season

1. A low score will win: This will be one of my primary predictions come Wednesday, and Jordan Spieth confirmed it on Tuesday in his press conference. "I don't see par winning the tournament," said Spieth. "I see closer to 5- to 10-under. Someone who has very good control of the ball off the tee will have plenty of opportunities to make birdies, given the conditions that we're expecting."

There are a couple of reasons for this. The first is that the course is playing at a par of 72 for the first time in 25 years. Many times U.S. Open scores are at or around par because par 5s play as par 4s and the USGA artificially enhances the final number. That won't be the case this year.

Also, the fairways are wide, the rough is (now) shorter and if the wind doesn't blow, there will be little protection for the greens and tight collection areas. Now, the wind will probably blow most of the week, but even if it dies slightly, the course seems gettable.

2. Should they or shouldn't they: Despite cutting its out-of-control rough on Tuesday, the USGA is still catching flack from some for their decision to cut it down. Ladies and gentlemen, the organization that cannot win.

Now, they said they whacked it because of weather, not to satiate players. But I'm of the belief that players' complaints -- such as this from Kevin Na -- had to come into play at least a little bit.

I'm of the opinion that because of the crazy wide fairways, the USGA should have left everything alone and let the course play as it stands. I understand why they cut it, but these fairways are so wide I think even Phil Mickelson could hit them (hopefully we get to find out of that's true). Let the fescue play as a water hazard and move along down the road.

3. The forever course: The longest course in U.S. Open (and major championship) history could play even longer as it has rained (and will likely continue to rain) this week. That's great news for Dustin Johnson, Jason Day and Rory McIlroy, who all hit the ball 740 yards off the tee. It's not great news for the Brandt Snedekers and Billy Horschels of the world. This could have a 2011 at Congressional to it.

Is everything coming up Rory?

4. Which quadrant will it fall under? Speaking of Congressional, I'm guessing Erin Hills will fall to the east and north of it on this graph. It will be longer, and it will probably have a higher missed fairway penalty given how badly you have to hit a shot here to actually miss a fairway.

5. A good short game: The eventual winner this week will be at least serviceable with his wedges. That sounds like a no-brainer, but let me explain. As Paul Azinger pointed out on Shane Bacon's podcast, the collection areas around the greens will play less like a U.S. Open and more like Augusta National. There will be some really tough spots to get up and down from, but you will be able to get up and down unlike many U.S. Opens of the past. Don't blast your drives 70 yards wide left or right and avoid bogeys when you miss greens, and you should be good to go. Sounds easy, right?