Worst possible timing.
Brooks Koepka withdrew before the final round of the RBC Canadian Open on Sunday with a hand injury, just one week before the U.S. Open.
Koepka had opened with a 64 and was tied for the lead after round one, seemingly having sorted out putting issues that plagued him earlier in the season. A second-round 68 kept him near the top, but a Saturday 72 saw him slide into a tie for 32nd. On Sunday morning, he attempted to warm up for his final round before withdrawing.
The injury surfaced during Saturday’s round. “The whole warm-up, I felt fine, I was absolutely good. Then got to the range and went to grip the club and I just couldn’t even grip it. So it lasted all day. Felt better the last few holes. I don’t know if that’s just the meds kicked in or what it is. But hopefully we’ll figure it out now,” Koepka said.
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“I don’t know what it is. I’m struggling to grip the club with my ring finger and pinkie finger, so can’t grip it. So the club is kind of just, my fingers would come loose, it was kind of numb. I don’t know what the deal was, but hopefully we’ll figure it out,” he added.
Koepka received treatment on his left elbow before Saturday’s round, with a trainer accompanying him throughout and additional treatment administered at the 11th tee. He said he had never dealt with anything like it before.
The timing couldn’t be worse. Koepka won the U.S. Open the last time it was played at Shinnecock Hills in 2018, making this week’s return to Southampton a marquee moment for the five-time major champion. His status for the tournament is now uncertain.
Koepka left LIV Golf and returned to the PGA Tour under the tour’s new Returning Member Program at the start of 2026. Through 11 events he had made eight cuts, with results including a T11 at Myrtle Beach, T55 at the PGA Championship, and T14 in Texas. He had been putting together a solid season, though openly admitted frustrations with his putting, experimenting with several different putters in search of improved results. The Canadian Open looked like a breakthrough week before his hand flared up on Saturday.
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The U.S. Open tees off Thursday at Shinnecock Hills.
