Solheim Cup: Suzann Pettersen looks forward to backroom role after injury

Suzann Pettersen remains confident she can play a key role for Europe from the sidelines at the Solheim Cup after making the "tough decision" to pull out of the team.

Pettersen revealed that she suffered a ruptured disc in her back in her native Norway last weekend, and she felt she would not be recovered in time to play in the competition for a ninth time at Des Moines in Iowa this week.

The world No 23, who was the third-highest ranked player for Europe after Anna Nordqvist and Carlota Ciganda, will now be part of the backroom staff as assistant captain to Annika Sorenstam, with Catriona Matthew taking Pettersen's place in the team.

"I went back to Norway after the British Open, played and practised and prepared to obviously come here in good shape, but unfortunately I had an incident on Saturday which was not a very pleasant experience," said Pettersen.

"I called Annika on Saturday night, told her to kind of inform her and it's obviously a little bit of an old history with a ruptured disc that flared up, and I've tried everything I can to get ready.

"But I can't see myself being 100 per cent to play, and if I can't be 100 per cent, I don't think it's fair for the team, for my team mates, for me to go out there. It's a big task to come here and try to get the cup back, and we need everyone 100 per cent.

"So at the end of the day it's very unfortunate. It's a very tough decision, but I have to be honest and knowing that Beany (Matthew) is ready to go makes me feel a lot better. I think all of us have been part of the Solheim Cup history, and everything that the Solheim brings to the game of golf, so it's very unfortunate not to be able to play.

"It is the biggest highlight of my career, it is different and very special, but I think the most important thing here is to think about our team and what the team needs. You have to kind of be honest with yourself and look yourself in the mirror and ask yourself if you fit enough to go or not.

"As tough as it was this morning to kind of make the final call, to kind of settle the team, to give Annika some room for different thoughts of me being out, to being in the room to prepare and get ready, I felt like it was the time to call and not wait any further.

"And obviously to step in as vice-captain for Annika is a great honour. And I'll try and be as good a support as I can for her and for the team."

Sorenstam has backed Pettersen to be influential in the team room throughout the week, and thanked opposite number Juli Inkster for agreeing to the Norwegian being a part of the backroom staff.

Asked how much Europe would miss Pettersen's "presence" inside the ropes, Sorenstam said: "That's one of the reasons we wanted Suzann to be part of the team, and I think she earned the right to be here. Obviously it was very unfortunate what happened, but we still have her as part of the team, being in the locker room.

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"Having her presence here and this is a big part of everybody and we're here to support each other. No task is too little for anybody. So we're going to go out there and do the best we can. I think she's going to do an excellent job.

"But it's going to be fun. I'm glad it worked out. And obviously I want to thank Juli for accepting us to this. I know it's been a lot of changes. I'm hoping we're done and we're ready to play."