Brooks Koepka withdrew from the RBC Canadian Open before Sunday’s final round after experiencing numbness in his left hand that left him unable to grip the club, leaving his status uncertain four days before the US Open at Shinnecock Hills.

The PGA Tour confirmed the withdrawal on Sunday morning. Koepka had been scheduled to tee off at 10:30 a.m. local time from the 10th tee at TPC Toronto at Osprey Valley in Caledon, Ontario, alongside Matthieu Pavon and Rasmus Neergaard-Petersen, who played on as a two-ball.

Koepka’s Symptoms

Speaking after Saturday’s third round, Koepka said the problem appeared without warning.

“I don’t know what it is,” he said. “I’m struggling to grip the club with my ring finger and pinkie finger, so can’t grip it. The club was kind of just slipping because my fingers would come loose. It was kind of numb.”

Koepka said he had felt fine during his warm-up before the issue surfaced on the range. “Then I got to the range and went to grip the club and I just couldn’t even grip it,” he said. “So it lasted all day. Felt better the last few holes. I don’t know if that’s just the meds kicked in or what it is. But hopefully we’ll figure it out now.”

He confirmed he had not experienced the problem before. “Not this. I don’t know what it is,” he said.

Saturday’s Third Round

Koepka entered the weekend two shots off the lead after 36 holes but carded a two-over 72 on Saturday, dropping to six under par and seven shots behind leader Jackson Suber. He received treatment on the 11th tee during the round, and Golf Channel’s Rex Hoggard reported that Koepka had also undergone treatment on his left elbow before the round. A trainer accompanied him for all 18 holes.

The decision to withdraw before the final round, with cold and windy conditions forecast in Toronto, appeared aimed at avoiding further aggravation ahead of the year’s third major.

US Open Status

Koepka won the US Open at Shinnecock Hills in 2018, the second of his back-to-back titles at the championship; he first won in 2017 at Erin Hills. The 126th US Open begins there on Thursday.

The 36-year-old, who returned to the PGA Tour from LIV Golf earlier this season, had played well this week before the hand issue surfaced. He ranked fourth on Tour in strokes gained approach entering the Canadian Open and had tied for fourth at The CJ Cup Byron Nelson three weeks earlier, his best finish since rejoining.

Whether Koepka will be fit to tee it up at Shinnecock depends on what his medical team finds in the coming days. He offered no timeline on Saturday beyond hoping to identify the cause.

Related: Golf’s Longest Day Fills All but One U.S. Open Spot for Shinnecock Hills

Monday's 36-hole final qualifying marathon across 10 sites decided 42 of 43 available berths in the 126th U.S. Open field. One spot remains unresolved after darkness halted a playoff in Oregon.

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