Brooks Koepka sounded positive about his health after withdrawing from last weekend’s RBC Canadian Open before the final round.
The five-time major winner played nine holes at Shinnecock Hills on Tuesday ahead of the start of this week’s U.S. Open and said that his hand was getting “better and better” and that there had been “quite a bit of improvement” from the day before while dealing with a flare-up in his ulnar nerve.
The issue has been impacting his pinky and ring finger, in what Koepka described as “kind of a tingly feeling as if you kind of hit your funny bone.”
“I don’t think I would have gone out and played if it wasn’t [improving],” Koepka said after Tuesday’s practice round.
Koepka got a neck scan in New York Monday after connecting with someone through orthopedic surgeon Dr. Neal ElAttrache. The scan came back negative, which was encouraging enough for the golfer to opt against a nerve test he planned to undergo in Manhattan.
He also received treatment on his hand from his physical therapist, Marc Wahl.
Koepka has movement in his hand, and he said he can “do everything,” but the sensation in his pinky and ring finger has persisted.
“The transition coming down, they would come off,” he explained. “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.”
Koepka acknowledged his grip still wasn’t 100 percent Tuesday, but it was “good enough” and he wasn’t feeling any pain.
“I’d almost prefer there was a little bit of pain. It would make sense why this hurts and that doesn’t. It just feels like you hit your funny bone all the time,” he said.
Koepka won the U.S. Open the last time it was at Shinnecock Hills in 2018.
This week marks his first time back at the Southampton golf course since that victory eight years ago; he described the return as a “cool feeling” that comes with “good memories.”
Koepka will tee off at 7:30 a.m. Thursday when the U.S. Open’s first round begins and will be paired with Cameron Young and Chris Gotterup.