Open 2026: What's a 'good' shot at Shinnecock? These 5 show the difference between our editors and the PGA Tour average

Open 2026 sheds light on what counts as a good shot at Shinnecock. In one test, editor Will Irwin hit a 285-yard tee shot on the par-4 9th, 18 yards shorter than the PGA Tour average and about 40 yards behind Aldrich Potgieter’s 328-yard mark for the season lead. The hole played into the wind, illustrating how conditions compress distance benchmarks and shift what players and viewers consider acceptable. Beall and Irwin, both near scratch, are placed alongside Arccos data showing that the average scratch golfer travels about 261 yards off the tee and a five handicap around 249. Ahead of the U.S. Open, we framed these shots to test what a good shot really is. Shot number two illustrates escaping the rough, as a scratch golfer might still reach the green with a short iron or wedge. The article emphasizes expectation management as a practical tool for smarter run-of-play decisions. Lou Stagner of Arccos explains that misjudging a good shot often leads to disappointment and frustration. By placing the editors' attempts within tour context, the piece argues that Shinnecock is atypical, yet the bar for a good shot is governed by course conditions.