It doesn\u2019t hurt and he\u2019s still not sure of the root cause. But it\u2019s certainly nothing that\u2019s going to prevent him from teeing off Thursday at 7:30 a.m. ET<\/a> at Shinnecock Hills.<\/p>\n \u201cThe movement\u2019s fine. I can do everything,\u201d Koepka said of his swing. \u201cIt\u2019s literally just my ring finger and pinkie finger were just kind of \u2013 and 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. <\/p>\n \u201cSo excited to be able to hold a golf club again.\u201d<\/p>\n Defending champion, of sorts<\/p>\n Koepka is returning to the site of his 2018 U.S. Open triumph<\/a>. That was a successful title defense as he won in 2017 at Erin Hills. This, too, is a chance to repeat as it\u2019s the first major at Shinnecock in eight years.<\/p>\n It\u2019s been a Lombard Street-type journey since then for Koepka, but it\u2019s led back to here, where he feels encouraged by his form.<\/p>\n \u201cI feel just as good. I think ball striking is even better than what it\u2019s been,\u201d he said when asked to compare his game now to 2018. \u201cPutting, I had a great week putting last week (prior to the WD). I\u2019m excited for the challenge. This course can be quite difficult. You\u2019re going to have to be creative around this place and really, really work on your angles coming in. I\u2019m excited about it, and the game feels good.\u201d<\/p>\n Koepka, much like others, described his Shinnecock strategy as, \u201cwe play the hole backwards,\u201d depending on where each pin is located. This, he added, is his first trip back to the Long Island venue since his major triumph. One thing that has stood out is green speed.<\/p>\n \u201cDefinitely slower than I remember,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m not saying they\u2019re slow, but it\u2019s a lot different than what I remember as far as firmness.\u201d<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/a><\/p>\n Here\u2019s what players can expect during championship days, weather wise, at Shinnecock Hills.<\/p>\n The USGA seems to be playing things conservatively early in the week, especially with high winds in the forecast (officials will speak Wednesday at 11 a.m. ET). Previous iterations at Shinnecock, including its two most recent times as host in 2004 and 2018, had their share of controversial moments. Koepka won in \u201918 at 1 over par with two-time major champion Zach Johnson saying the USGA had \u201clost the course<\/a>.\u201d<\/p>\n Koepka, who has six top-20 finishes in his return from LIV Golf to the PGA Tour, isn\u2019t one for public bemoaning. He takes what\u2019s offered and does what he can with it. This week, it\u2019s a bit of tingling.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t think the grip strength is a hundred percent,\u201d he said, \u201cbut it\u2019s good enough. It\u2019s fine.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"U.S.](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/1781708650_769_.jpeg\")
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