Brooks Koepka Starts U.S. Open With Familiar Shinnecock Edge
Brooks Koepka does not need a perfect setup to matter at a U.S. Open.
He has built too much of his major championship reputation on the opposite. Hard courses. Thick rough. Wind. Uneven lies. Long irons from uncomfortable places. Pars that feel like birdies. The kind of week where patience and physical strength matter just as much as swing aesthetics.
That is why Thursday morning at Shinnecock Hills is so interesting.
Koepka began his 2026 U.S. Open in a group that fits the mood of the week, alongside Cameron Young and Chris Gotterup. All three can move it. All three can flight it. All three have enough power to make Shinnecock feel manageable in spots where others may simply be trying to survive.
Koepka, of course, brings something else.
He has already won here.
Key Takeaways
Why Brooks Koepka's Start Matters
Koepka is back at Shinnecock Hills, the place where he won the 2018 U.S. Open and added another layer to his major championship reputation.
The health question: Koepka is playing after dealing with weakness and tingling in his left hand at the RBC Canadian Open.
The course fit: Shinnecock rewards patience, ball control and toughness, all traits tied closely to Koepka's major championship identity.
The early storyline: If the hand holds up, Koepka becomes one of the more dangerous players on the board quickly.
The Hand Is The Question
The biggest unknown is not whether Koepka understands Shinnecock. It is whether his body lets him fully use that understanding.
Koepka withdrew before the final round of the RBC Canadian Open after dealing with weakness and tingling in his left hand, especially in the pinky and ring fingers. The issue made it difficult for him to grip the club, which is not exactly a small detail for a player trying to win a U.S. Open.
The encouraging part is that Koepka arrived on Long Island sounding more optimistic than uncertain. He said the issue was improving and made it clear he planned to play.
That matters, because Koepka does not usually talk himself into false hope at majors. If anything, his history suggests he is at his most dangerous when the golf gets uncomfortable and everyone else starts looking for clean answers.
Health Watch
The Hand Is The Story To Monitor
Brooks Koepka's biggest question entering the U.S. Open is not whether he can handle Shinnecock Hills. It is whether his left hand lets him fully trust the club.
Koepka dealt with weakness and tingling in his left hand at the RBC Canadian Open, an issue that affected his ability to grip the club.
Watch early: Grip pressure, rough shots and heavy turf interaction.
Watch late: Whether the hand holds up as the round gets longer and the misses become more demanding.
Shinnecock Has Already Seen This Version
Koepka's 2018 U.S. Open win at Shinnecock remains one of the defining performances of his career.
He opened with a 75 that week, then steadied himself while the championship turned into exactly what the U.S. Open often becomes at Shinnecock: a test of nerve, control and acceptance. He closed at 1-over par and beat Tommy Fleetwood by one, becoming the first player in nearly three decades to win back-to-back U.S. Opens.
That part should not be overlooked this week.
Koepka does not need Shinnecock to be easy. He needs it to be honest. He needs enough feel in that left hand to control the clubface, enough patience to accept bogeys when they come and enough putter to turn a hard day into something useful.
Course Fit
Why Shinnecock Still Makes Sense For Brooks Koepka
It rewards toughness. Shinnecock forces players to accept uncomfortable shots, difficult lies and stretches where par is a very good score.
It values ball control. Koepka's best major golf has come when driving, trajectory and distance control matter more than pure birdie volume.
It brings back good memories. Koepka already proved he can win a U.S. Open at Shinnecock, closing out the 2018 championship there.
Why His Start Matters
The early fog delay only added to the feel of a true U.S. Open morning. Stop and start. Wind coming. Patience required immediately.
For Koepka, the first few holes are less about fireworks and more about information. Can he grip the club under pressure? Can he control the ball out of the rough? Can he trust the hand when turf interaction gets heavy? Can he get through the opening stretch without making the injury the story?
If the answer is yes, he becomes very dangerous very quickly.
Koepka does not arrive as the hottest name in the field, but major championships have never required him to be. His best version is still built for this environment, and Shinnecock is one of the few places in modern golf where his résumé, temperament and ball-striking toughness all meet in the same place.
The hand is worth watching.
So is the player attached to it.
PGA of America Golf Professional Brendon Elliott is an award-winning coach and golf writer who serves as Athlon Sports Senior Golf Writer. Read his recent "The Starter" on R.org, where he is their Lead Golf Writer. To stay updated on all of his latest work, sign up for his newsletter or visit his MuckRack Profile.
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This story was originally published June 18, 2026 at 7:36 AM.