Tom Lehman withdrew before Thursday's first round of the WGC-American Express Championship in England to make Byron Nelson's funeral Friday.

David Woo/DMN

Byron Nelson

Guests began arriving outside Richland Hills Church of Christ just before noon. Inside, large displays of flowers graced the front of the sanctuary, punctuated by a central arrangement of red roses topped with Nelson's trademark hat. Two portraits of Nelson, one as a young golfer and another taken in 1995, sat on either side of the roses.

About 4,000 people were expected to attend the service, which began promptly at 1:30 p.m.

Lehman, who served as U.S. team captain at last week's Ryder Cup, and Jim Furyk had dinner with the legend at his Roanoke ranch in May while playing the EDS Byron Nelson Championship. Nelson died Tuesday at 94.

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

Nelson's most famous protégés, Tom Watson and Ken Venturi, also will attend. Venturi will speak during the service.

With two PGA Tour and one Champions Tour events this week, many players will be unable to attend. Still, the list of golf dignitaries is impressive.

It includes players Ben Crenshaw, Justin Leonard, Charles Coody, D.A. Weibring, Harrison Frazar, Bob Tway, Hal Sutton, Kirk Triplett, Tom Purtzer, and Lehman's associate Ryder Cup captains Corey Pavin of Dallas and Loren Roberts; PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem; PGA of America president Roger Warren; and broadcaster David Feherty.

Players who couldn't attend because they were competing found ways to honor Nelson. Fort Worth's J.J. Henry is keeping the wooden keepsake Nelson made for each member of the Ryder Cup team with him while playing the WGC event.

"No question, it will be in my bag this week," Henry told the Associated Press. "Byron was everything golf stands for."

Dallas native Scott Verplank, befriended by Nelson when he was 17, wore a cap with "BN" written in black ink on the side during the first round. Verplank said Nelson used to send him about a dozen letters a year, either congratulating or encouraging him.

"I'm not sure I've ever met a person like him," Verplank told reporters in England. "If he never did anything in golf, he'd be loved universally."

Memorial gifts may be made to the Richland Hills Church of Christ Missions, and to the Salesmanship Club of Dallas. The church is located at 6300 NE Loop 820 (at Rufe Snow) in North Richland Hills. Doors open at 11:45 a.m.