Concern Grows for Brooks Koepka’s U.S. Open Chances After RBC Canadian Open Withdrawal

Brooks Koepka appeared to be building momentum at exactly the right time before an unexpected injury raised concerns ahead of the U.S. Open.

The five-time major champion had shown encouraging signs in recent weeks. At the CJ Cup Byron Nelson, Koepka opened with an impressive 8-under 63, his lowest round of the 2026 season and one of his best performances since returning to the PGA Tour. He carried that form into the RBC Canadian Open, where he fired a first-round 64 to earn a share of the lead.

Koepka followed with a steady 2-under 68 in the second round, keeping himself firmly in contention heading into the weekend. However, things took a troubling turn during the third round when he began experiencing problems with his left hand.

On June 14, PGA Tour Communications officially announced that Koepka had withdrawn from the final round of the RBC Canadian Open due to a hand injury.

“Brooks Koepka WD (hand injury) prior to the final round of the RBC Canadian Open.”

The decision came after overnight treatment failed to resolve the issue. While the full extent of the injury remains unclear, the timing could not be worse with the U.S. Open set to begin next week at Shinnecock Hills.

According to Golf Channel’s Rex Hoggard, Koepka was seen receiving treatment on his left arm and elbow from his trainer before teeing off in the third round. What made the situation even more puzzling was that Koepka felt completely normal during his warm-up.

“The whole warm-up, I felt fine. I was absolutely good. Then I got to the range and went to grip the club, and I just couldn’t even grip it.”

The injury noticeably affected his play. After entering Saturday just two shots behind the leader, Koepka struggled throughout the round and did not record a birdie until late in the day. He eventually carded a 2-over 72, falling out of serious contention.

Following the round, Koepka admitted he was having difficulty holding the club because of numbness in his fingers.

“I’m struggling to grip the club with my ring finger and pinky finger. The club was kind of just coming loose from my hands. It was kind of numb. I don’t know what the deal was, but hopefully we’ll figure it out.”

The news immediately sparked concern among golf fans because the upcoming U.S. Open will be played at Shinnecock Hills, the site of one of Koepka’s most memorable victories.

In 2018, Koepka captured the U.S. Open title at Shinnecock Hills, successfully defending his championship and becoming the first player in nearly three decades to win consecutive U.S. Opens. His victory came after a remarkable comeback during the tournament and remains one of the defining moments of his career.

With that history in mind, many fans expressed concern about his chances of contending next week.

One fan wrote:

“Not great for Brooks Koepka ahead of returning to Shinnecock next week.”

Another commented:

“A Shinnecock repeat isn’t looking great.”

Others remained cautiously optimistic, hoping additional treatment will allow him to recover in time.

Despite the setback, Koepka has shown positive signs throughout the season, including a tie for 12th at the Masters and a tie for 14th at the CJ Cup Byron Nelson. The RBC Canadian Open was shaping up to be another strong performance before the injury forced him out.

For now, the severity of the hand injury remains unknown. As the golf world turns its attention to Shinnecock Hills, the biggest question is whether Brooks Koepka will be healthy enough to compete at the level that has made him one of the most successful major champions of his generation.

The answer may determine whether he can make another run at U.S. Open glory.