A step back for Suzann Pettersen

• By Randall Mell
• Sep 30, 2009 6:28 PM ET

PRATTVILLE, Ala. – Suzann Pettersen withdrew from the Navistar LPGA Classic before Wednesday morning’s pro-am citing a foot injury.

Pettersen also withdrew from the final round of the CVS/pharmacy LPGA Challenge on Sunday with the same injury, a mysterious pain in her left foot. She knows what’s causing the problem now.

“Suzann has a stress fracture in her left leg bone,” her agent, Jan Ove Nystuen, said via e-mail. “We still don’t know the extent of this.”

The injury could cost Pettersen a chance at the Rolex Player of the Year Award. She thrust herself into the thick of the race with her victory four weeks ago at the CN Canadian Women’s Open and ranks fourth in POY points, trailing Jiyai Shin, Cristie Kerr and Ai Miyazato. With five tournaments remaining, the POY race is wide open.

Nystuen reports that Pettersen doesn’t know what caused the injury or how long she will be unable to play, but she is scheduled to undergo further medical examinations this week in an attempt to return as soon as possible.

“I am disappointed to have to pull out of this tournament, withdrawing is always done with a heavy heart,” Pettersen said on her Web site. “My foot is not in good enough shape to play this week, though, and I'm going to get some more medical advice on how to fix it.”