U.S. Am champion Bryson DeChambeau leaving SMU men’s golf team

Reigning U.S. Amateur and NCAA men’s golf champion Bryson DeChambeau is leaving the Southern Methodist University golf team.

“To best prepare myself for the next six months of competition and future events, I felt it was appropriate to make this decision now to be fair to my coaches and team,” he said to Golf Channel.

The SMU men’s golf program was hit with severe NCAA sanctions two weeks ago, a response to the behavior of former men’s golf coach Josh Gregory. Included in the penalties was a postseason ban for the 2015-16 season, meaning DeChambeau, even competing as an individual, is banned from defending the championship he won in May. The school is appealing the sanctions.

As U.S. Amateur champion, DeChambeau has a spot in the Masters, U.S. Open and British Open, provided he remains an amateur. If he turns pro, then he forfeits those exemptions. Golf Channel reports the expectation is for DeChambeau to turn pro after the Masters, leaving him time to attempt to qualify for the U.S. Open, British Open or both.

In November, DeChambeau plans to play in the Argentina Open, played Nov. 5-8, and the Australian Open from Nov. 26-29.

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