Double US Open champion, Ernie Els declared that not even the use of helicopters will dry out an already rain-softened Merion Course and venue for this week’s 113th US Open.

Firm, fast conditions are always the USGA’s desire for the U.S. Open, especially at a short Merion course where players will use their wedges more often than usual.

Muddy Merion Monday.

But the weather is not sticking to the script and with rain continuing to further drench the Merion course today (Monday) that will guarantee the course will play soft when the Open’s first round begins Thursday.

“You’re not going to see a firm U.S. Open this year, I’m sorry,” said Els.

“I don’t care if they get helicopters flying over the fairways. It’s not going to dry up. We’re going to have a soft golf course this week, all week.

“It means that if you’re on your game you’re going to have a lot of birdie putts. … You’re going to see a lot more birdies than ever at a U.S. Open.”

Thick rough and precarious pin placements may be Merion’s last lines of defense.

Els said the rough is “as bad as I’ve ever seen it” and the soft conditions will lead to a sub-par winning score — some predicted that players will reach double-digits under par in soft conditions — but the U.S. Open’s intimidation factor may keep scoring in check.

“It’s going to be an exciting U.S. Open,” added Els.

“What number is going to win, I have no idea. It’s still a U.S. Open. I don’t care if you play the easiest course in the world. Put U.S. Open in front of it, everybody gets nervous, especially over the weekend.”

Merion received more than 3 inches of rain on Friday, and with three seperate downpours today (Monday) not helping.

Merion course superintendent Matt Shaffer said the base sand was left alone. Workers removed the silt and put about three tons of new sand in the bunker, tamped it down and “we were ready to go.”

For now, officials were hopeful.

Shaffer said Merion has had two big rains, and both times 11th green has stayed above water. And while there were tiny streams running through fairways and large pools of water on sections of the greens, the water appeared to drain quickly.

“This golf course is not built on sand, so it’s got the heavier soils,” USGA executive director Mike Davis said. “But it is maybe the best draining golf course I have ever seen. If you walk this course, you know there’s hardly any flat lies at Merion.”

Merion is 6,996 yards on the scorecard, the shortest U.S. Open course since Shinnecock Hills in 2004.