Brooks Koepka kept his grip on the golf club during the first round of the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills, closing with a 3-over 73 on a course that was playing better than 4 over par during his round.
Koepka, who withdrew from the Canadian Open four days before the start of the U.S. Open citing issues with his ring and pinky fingers on his left hand, finished with three birdies, two bogeys and two double bogeys. The Jupiter resident bogeyed No. 18 where he three putted after his tee shot landed in the rough.
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The five-time major champion, including the U.S. Open in 2017 and 2018, gave an update two days before the start of the tournament, saying although his grip strength was not 100%, he felt no pain.
“I think it’s just the ulnar nerve, just flared up a little bit,” Koepka said. “I don’t know what I did. I know I came back Friday (after the second round of the Canadian Open), didn’t go to the gym … and I just kept playing with my wrist. It just felt like it was very weak and kind of a tingly feeling as if you kind of hit your funny bone. That’s kind of how it felt in my ring finger and pinky finger.”
Koepka had a scan on his neck, which was negative.
“It felt like they were coming off the golf club, but they were just very weak,” Koepka said about his pinky and ring fingers. “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 won that 2018 U.S. Open, the last played at Shinnecock Hills, at 1-over par.
Tom D’Angelo is a senior sports columnist and reporter for The Palm Beach Post. He can be reached at tdangelo@pbpost.com.
This article originally appeared on Palm Beach Post: Brooks Koepka cards 73 at US Open after pulling out of Canadian Open
Reporting by Tom D’Angelo, Palm Beach Post / Palm Beach Post
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Tom D'Angelo, Palm Beach Post | USA TODAY Network
