If a cypress tree falls at Pebble Beach, the chances are good that Casey Boyns will hear it. When a bunker is added, he notices too. A Monterey native, Boyns, 54, has walked the fabled course thousands of times, both as an accomplished amateur and a caddie.

We asked Boyns to assess the changes that have been made to the routing since the Open last visited in 2000 and how he suspects the renovations — overseen by Pebble's A-list managing partner, Arnold Palmer — will affect the pros.

"The course is much harder and much longer than ever, although it's still vulnerable for the first seven holes," Boyns says. "Nos. 8 through 12 are the meat of the course — whoever plays that stretch best will be your champion."