Matthew replaces Pettersen on Europe Solheim Cup golf team

 Norway's Suzann Pettersen withdrew from the European Solheim Cup team Wednesday with a disc injury, pushing British alternate Catriona Matthew into the line-up for the matches against the Americans that begin Friday.

European captain Annika Sorenstam announced the change for the biennial showdown with the US women, which is being played at Iowa's Des Moines Golf and Country Club. Matthew is one of Sorenstam's vice-captains.

"I arrived in Des Moines on Monday evening after receiving treatment for a recurrent slipped disc injury which occurred in Norway over the weekend," Pettersen said in a statement on her Instagram page.

"Despite receiving further treatment from the team osteopath on site, I withdrew on Wednesday morning due to experiencing persistent pain.

"I have made this extremely difficult decision to help the European team and give my teammates the best possible chance of success. There was no guarantee that I would be fit to compete on Friday morning and I did not want to play unless I was able to give 100 percent."

Pettersen said she would stay on to support the team, who trail 9-5 in the overall rivalry with the US trophy holders, who reclaimed the Cup with a 14 1/2-13 1/2 victory in 2015 in Germany.

"It's unfortunate that Suzann has to withdraw due to her back injury," Sorenstam said. "The Solheim Cup has been such an important part of her career. It was a very tough decision, but I am proud of her and she will still be a leader this week."

Sorenstam selected Scotland's Matthew, the 2009 Women's British Open champion, as her alternate when she chose her team after this year's Women's British Open.

Matthew, 47, will make her ninth Solheim Cup appearance. She has earned 19 points from 33 matches played from 1998-2015 and helped Europe to victory in 2003, 2011 and 2013.

"Catriona is a proven Solheim Cup performer who will be able to step right in and play with anybody," Sorenstam said. "She's ready to go."

Matthew holed the winning putt in 2003 in Sweden and secured the half point to win the Cup outright and seal Europe's first away victory at Colorado Golf Club in 2013.

Source: AFP