\t\t\t\tBrooks Koepka arrived at the US Open with incredible memories of Shinnecock Hills \u2013 but also a problem\u2026<\/p>\n
The last time a US Open was held at Shinnecock Hills, Brooks Koepka was the last man standing. <\/p>\n
Koepka became the first player to go back-to-back in the US Open<\/a> in 29 years when he edged out Tommy Fleetwood to win his third major championship in 2018.<\/p>\n So much has happened in Koepka\u2019s life since then \u2013 including some significant injury trouble and a controversial move to LIV Golf \u2013 but the American was supposed to be one of the protagonists again at Shinnecock this time around. <\/p>\n Now though, the five-time major champion heads to Long Island with a cloud hanging over his fitness. Koepka withdrew before the final round of last week\u2019s RBC Canadian Open<\/a> citing discomfort with a mystery hand injury.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know what it is,\u201d he said on Saturday. \u201cI\u2019m struggling to grip the club with my ring finger and pinkie finger, so can\u2019t grip it. My fingers would come loose; it was kind of numb. I don\u2019t know what the deal was, but hopefully we\u2019ll figure it out.\u201d<\/p>\n Koepka\u2019s comments felt ominous and prompted huge doubts about his participation at this week\u2019s US Open \u2013 his first return to Shinnecock since his victory eight years ago.<\/p>\n But Koepka allayed fears of a possible withdrawal with a positive update in his pre-tournament press conference.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s getting better day by day,\u201d he said. \u201cI would say yesterday was pretty much how it was Sunday, but today there was quite a bit of improvement. I don\u2019t think I would have gone out and played if it wasn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n Koepka had visited a doctor and had scans on his neck over the weekend, before it was determined the problem stemmed from the ulnar nerve \u2013 the nerve that controls movement and feeling in your hand. <\/p>\n \u201cEverything\u2019s fine,\u201d he explained. \u201cThe movement\u2019s fine. I can do everything. It\u2019s literally just my ring finger and pinkie finger\u2026 on the transition coming down, they would come off. It felt like they were coming off the golf club, but they were just very weak. Then as soon as impact would come with the turf interaction, it felt like it was fully off. So excited to be able to hold a golf club again.\u201d<\/p>\n