Ryder Cup captain Tom Lehman's struggle inspires team; Tiger Woods paired with Jim Furyk at Ryder Cup; LPGA Longs Drug Challenge begins

Tom Lehman’s personal story of struggling through the ranks of professional golf is an inspiration to his team going into the Ryder Cup Matches in Ireland, The New York Times reported yesterday. Lehman spent much of his early career fighting to make it as a professional golfer before eventually finding his stride. He won his first PGA Tour event in 1994 and outplayed the field at the British Open two years later. Many of the U.S. players respect his perseverance and determination, according to the report …

In other Ryder Cup news, Tiger Woods will be paired with Jim Furyk, Lehman announced yesterday. Lehman will submit the rest of his pairings for the opening matches, starting Sept. 22., today …

The LPGA Tour Longs Drug Challenge at Blackhawk Country Club in California begins today. The first place prize is $165,000.