Brooks Koepka Faces Neck Injury Ahead of U.S. Open

Tuesday, June 16, 2026

Brooks Koepka is entering the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills despite a neck injury affecting his C5 and C6 vertebrae that has caused hand weakness and limited his practice. His participation remains uncertain in terms of performance, while Wyndham Clark seeks redemption after last year’s missed cut and locker incident, and Jackson Koivun makes his final amateur appearance before turning professional.

Brooks Koepka, the two-time U.S. Open champion and five-time major winner, is confronting a neck injury ahead of this week’s tournament at Shinnecock Hills Golf Club on Eastern Long Island. Koepka, who claimed the U.S. Open title at Shinnecock in 2018, underwent medical scans on Monday in Manhattan to assess damage to his C5 and C6 vertebrae. The injury has raised concerns about his ability to contend at the tournament, which begins shortly.

Koepka withdrew from the final round of the Canadian Open on Sunday after experiencing weakness in the pinky and ring fingers of his left hand, symptoms that first appeared following his second round on Friday. The discomfort resurfaced during his warmup on Saturday, impairing his grip on the club. The golfer, who previously suffered herniated discs between the C6 and C7 vertebrae in 2021, said he plans to be present at Shinnecock Hills for the start of the U.S. Open but remains uncertain about how much he will be able to practice. Despite the injury, Koepka has no intention of withdrawing, stating, “I’m gonna go this week.”

Meanwhile, Wyndham Clark returns to the U.S. Open aiming to overcome the disappointment of missing the cut at last year’s event at Oakmont. Clark also faced public scrutiny after an incident involving damage to a locker at the club. Reflecting on the episode, he expressed regret and acknowledged the personal growth it prompted. “That was a really challenging time and something I’ve deeply regretted and feel awful that I did that,” Clark said. “But there were so many good lessons in that that really taught me a bunch. I’ve really come a long way, and I’m excited for this year’s Open for some redemption and to move forward and enjoy the challenges of Shinnecock and how great this place is and how amazing this championship is.”

In addition to established professionals, the tournament will feature Jackson Koivun, who is making his final appearance as an amateur before turning professional. Koivun, a junior at Auburn and one of college golf’s most accomplished players, announced last week his decision to forgo his senior season and join the PGA Tour starting in July. The San Jose native has been instrumental in Auburn’s two national championships, and with 11 collegiate victories to his name, he joins an elite group alongside Jon Rahm, Phil Mickelson, and Tiger Woods, all of whom reached double-digit wins during their college careers.