Defending NCAA golf champ DeChambeau leaves SMU

DALLAS (AP) — U.S. Amateur champion Bryson DeChambeau has left SMU in the wake of NCAA penalties against the men’s golf team that would keep him from defending his NCAA individual title next summer.

SMU officials confirmed Wednesday that DeChambeau was no longer on the team.

DeChambeau revealed his decision in a statement to Golf Channel, though he never mentioned sanctions the NCAA announced last month against the SMU men’s golf and men’s basketball teams. He told Golf Channel that he was preparing himself for the next six months of competition and future events, and felt it was appropriate to let his coaches and team know now.

DeChambeau joined Jack Nicklaus, Phil Mickelson, Tiger Wood and Ryan Moore as the only players to win the U.S. Amateur championship in the same year.

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