After a nerve injury forced a sudden withdrawal last week, the two-time champion arrives at Shinnecock Hills pain-free and ready to chase a historic third U.S. Open title.
Brooks Koepka is back at Shinnecock Hills, back at the U.S. Open, and apparently back to gripping a golf club without pain.
That last part might be the most important development of the week.
Koepka’s return to one of the most meaningful venues of his career comes with real intrigue after he withdrew from the RBC Canadian Open following a flare-up in his left hand.
The five-time major champion had been in the mix through two rounds at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley before the issue made it difficult to hold the club properly.
On Tuesday, Koepka said the problem was tied to his ulnar nerve, which affected feeling in the ring and pinkie fingers of his left hand.
The encouraging news? A neck scan came back clean, and the discomfort appears to be fading before his opening round with Cameron Young and Chris Gotterup.
“Excited to be able to hold a golf club again,” Koepka said. “I don’t think the grip strength is a hundred percent, but it’s good enough. It’s fine. There’s no pain. There’s absolutely no pain, which is kind of the weirdest part of this whole thing.”
That’s exactly the kind of update that should get everyone’s attention.
When Koepka is healthy at a major, he’s never just another name on the tee sheet. He’s the guy who won the 2017 U.S. Open at Erin Hills, came back the next year and defended the title at Shinnecock, then kept stacking major trophies until his total reached five.
His approach hasn’t changed much, either.
While plenty of players will obsess over yardage books, wind charts and pin sheets this week, Koepka made it sound a lot simpler.
“I just kind of wake up that day and go,” Koepka said.
That formula worked beautifully here in 2018, when Koepka survived a brutal Shinnecock setup and held off Tommy Fleetwood by one shot.
Now he returns with six top-25 finishes in 12 PGA TOUR starts this season, one top-10, and elite iron numbers, ranking fifth in Strokes Gained: Approach.
The putter has been the problem, though last week’s opening 64 suggested that part of the game might be coming around, too.
“I feel just as good. I think ball-striking is even better than what it’s been,” Koepka said.
“I’m excited for the challenge. This course can be quite difficult. You’re going to have to be creative around this place and really, really work on your angles coming in. I’m excited about it, and the game feels good."
Now the chase is historic. Koepka can become the first player since Jack Nicklaus at Baltusrol to win multiple U.S. Opens on the same course.
For everyone else, that’s a warning shot.
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