Koepka playing through wrist pain from avoiding golf cart

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. (AP) — Two tournaments into his return following a wrist injury, U.S. Open champion Brooks Koepka nearly suffered another setback.

All because of a golf cart.

Koepka waited until the last minute Thursday morning before deciding to tee off at The Players Championship, and he got around just fine with a 2-under 70 while playing alongside fellow power hitters Dustin Johnson and Bubba Watson.

"When I was going to the tee, I felt like I could still win the tournament," Koepka said. "If I don't feel I can win, I'm not going to tee it up."

Koepka was on the back of the range Wednesday, hitting what he described as "punch, stinger 3-irons" that he would need from the tee on No.