ESPN Golf: Koepka Confirms U.S. Open Start Despite Hand Injury Scare

Koepka Declares Intent to Play Despite Uncertainty

Five-time major champion Brooks Koepka has confirmed he intends to compete in this week's U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills, just days after withdrawing from the RBC Canadian Open due to a troubling hand injury. In a direct message to Golfweek, Koepka said simply: "I'm gonna go this week."

What Happened to His Hand?

Koepka first experienced weakness and numbness in the ring and pinky fingers of his left hand on Friday night during the Canadian Open, making it difficult to maintain a grip on the club. The symptoms resurfaced during his warmup on Saturday, and he ultimately withdrew before the final round.

He underwent neck scans in both Canada and New York, but no structural issues were found—a relief given his history of a herniated C5/C6 disc in 2021. Doctors have suggested two potential causes:

- A flare-up of the ulnar nerve - Thoracic outlet syndrome, a condition involving compression of nerves or blood vessels near the collarbone

No definitive diagnosis has been confirmed ahead of his planned start.

Shinnecock Hills: A Proven Hunting Ground

If healthy, Koepka has every reason for confidence at this venue. He captured his second consecutive U.S. Open title here in 2018, firing a closing 68 to finish 1-over par—one stroke clear of Tommy Fleetwood.

Since rejoining the PGA Tour from LIV Golf in January, Koepka has recorded six top-25 finishes in 12 starts, showing competitive form if not a victory.

Strokeslab Take

The unresolved diagnosis is the wildcard here. Ulnar nerve or thoracic outlet issues can directly compromise grip pressure and wrist stability—both critical to SG: Off the Tee and SG: APP performance. Koepka's tee-to-green numbers this week will be telling.