HERTFORDSHIRE, England -- U.S. Ryder Cup captain Tom Lehman has withdrawn from the World Golf Championships-American Express Championship to attend the funeral of Byron Nelson on Friday.

"I was looking forward to competing this week," Lehman said. "But I felt I had an obligation to return home to honor one of the game's all-time great players and gentlemen."

Nelson died at his home in Texas on Tuesday at the age of 94. The memorial service will be held Friday at 1:30 p.m. CT at the Richland Hills Church of Christ in Richland, Texas.