Bryson DeChambeau of Clovis, the reigning NCAA champion, told GolfChannel.com that he is leaving the Southern Methodist University men’s golf team and will turn professional after the Masters in April.
SMU recently was slapped with NCAA sanctions that prevent DeChambeau from defending his title.
“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,” said DeChambeau, a senior who plans to return to school later to complete his physics degree.
” … SMU, my coaches and the athletic department have been incredibly supportive of my decision and I owe them a great debt of gratitude for all of their support.”
The 22-year-old DeChambeau, who became the fifth player to win the NCAA and U.S. Amateur titles in the same year, is exempt into the first three majors of 2016 by virtue of his U.S. Am title.
If he were to turn pro before the Masters, he would forfeit those exemptions.
The others who pulled off the NCAA-U.S. Am double in the same year are Jack Nicklaus, Tiger Woods, Phil Mickelson, and Ryan Moore.
“Bryson has meant so much to the SMU program the last three years,” SMU coach Jason Enloe said. “I am so excited for him and all the opportunities that he has ahead of him. Bryson will do great things in the professional ranks and I am looking forward to watching him.”
DeChambeau plans to play as an amateur in the Argentina Open on Nov. 5-8 and the Australian Open on Nov. 26-29.
