The dust has settled on one of the craziest Solheim Cups in history, and while some are still talking about "the incident" or "the comeback", it is time to look at each player as a whole and grade them on their performance, as well as take a look at what both teams need to do when the event takes place in Des Moines in two years.
Team Europe:
Keep in mind that the Europeans had this event under control until the singles matches. They played very well, better than most expectations. A blow out loss might have been better, because at least then it could be blamed on a talent differential. Instead, they walk away with a one point loss, and a lot of questions.
Carlota Ciganda
Record: 1-1-2
Grade: B+. Was much better than her record states. Was a fiery leader for the team that was paired against the best American players all week. Her come back to get a halve against Lexi Thompson in the singles was nearly a death blow to the Americans. Played all Friday wearing sunglasses, a true sign of being cool.
Sandra Gal
Record: 2-1-1
Grade: B. For someone playing in front of a home crowd, she didn't seem as fired up as she probably should have been. Still played very well, but her loss was the final singles match where she got blown out by Paula Creamer.
Caroline Hedwall
Record: 1-3
Grade: F. She was chosen as a captain's pick solely because of her performance two years ago. That pick was a mistake, and an even bigger mistake was having her play four matches. Her one win was possible because of how well Anna Nordqvist was playing.
Charley Hull
Record: 4-1
Grade: A+. Was looking to duplicate what Hedwall did in 2013 by winning five matches, and was on pace to do so given how well she was playing. The controversial "gimmie" incident on the 17th green in the second to last session took all the fight out of Hull, and she ended up getting routed by Cristie Kerr in the singles. Still, Hull loves the Solheim Cup, and will be a leader for this team for years.
Karine Icher
Record: 2-1
Grade: B+. One of only three Europeans to win their singles matches. When the putter was on, she looked unstoppable. Hopefully that game translates into an LPGA Tour victory sometime soon.
Caroline Masson
Record: 0-2-1
Grade: F. Another captain's pick that did not work out, but Koch will receive a lot less criticism for this one. Playing in front of her home country, Masson just didn't have it this week. Her half point was possible due to great playing by Sandra Gal. Had a chance to close out the Solheim Cup on Sunday, but missed a 10 footer. An all around forgettable event for Masson.
Catriona Matthew
Record: 3-1
Grade: A-. Gets points taken off for losing to Morgan Pressel on Sunday, but Pressel played lights out and there wasn't much Matthew could do. Was still a work horse for the team and played incredibly well, especially in the most tense moments. When Matthew stops making Solheim Cup teams, Team Europe will really miss her.
Azahara Munoz
Record: 0-3
Grade: F. Not only did she lose her first team event as a professional, but she provided no points to her team. Was clutch in previous Solheim Cups, as well as the International Crown, but had nothing to give this week.
Gwladys Nocera
Record: 1-1
Grade: Incomplete. Honestly forgot she played. Lost her singles match to Alison Lee, but has very little else to grade on.
Anna Nordqvist
Record: 2-2
Grade: B+. The Americans gave her everything they could, and she still played lights out golf. Got beat thanks in part to bad performances by partners Hedwall and Pettersen. Beat Stacy Lewis in the singles to get Europe within a half a point. Would be the MVP of the team if it wasn't for the English women.
Suzann Pettersen
Record: 2-2
Grade: F. Released a statement earlier today apologizing for her role in the "gimmie" incident Sunday morning, so this story is hopefully over, but when people look at Pettersen's Solheim Cup, they will remember this incident above else. Part of that was the controversy behind the event, and part of it is because Pettersen did little else to help the team. Her loss to Stanford all but sealed the American comeback. This will be an event to forget for Pettersen.
Melissa Reid
Record: 3-0-1
Grade: A+. MVP of the team. A lot of talk about her emotional return to Germany, but if that factored in to her game, then it was all positive. Was really an unknown as to how she would play, but was lights out all week. Another player that could anchor this team for years to come.
Moving forward: Carin Koch should not get another shot at being a captain. While some may say that the Sunday comeback was not her fault, the selections of Caroline Hedwall and Caroline Masson are put squarely on her shoulders. Besides, after being a vice-captain for three matches, it is time for Annika Sorenstam to step up and take over as captain. The European team has a deep bench of people who could become captains, bur right now it is Annika's turn. Besides, after her comments about Suzann Pettersen this weekend, Dame Laura Davies will likely not be receiving any calls to lead the team in the near future.
This team could look very different in two years, as they take players from the Ladies European Tour as well as the LPGA Tour. Plus, two players are in their late 40's, and father time is undefeated. I'm sure Europe would love for a new, young player to step up and start winning tournaments in order to be a part of this team in the future.
Team USA
In the course of one day, Team USA went from looking like they were going to lose three straight Solheim Cups to defending the Cup at home. All the questions of "how can the US beat Europe" are now gone, and everyone can breathe a little easier.
Paula Creamer
Record: 2-2
Grade: B+. This is all based on expectations. Juli Inkster picked Paula Creamer because of her ability to fire up the team and her past Solheim Cup experience. The pick could easily have sank the team, but Creamer played well all week and provided the final point needed for the US to win the Cup.
Cristie Kerr
Record: 3-0-1
Grade: A. Team USA needed their veterans to step up, and Kerr did just that. She was the perfect compliment to Lexi Thompson in the team matches and she took down Charley Hull, who was perfect entering the singles matches. This team seems to live or die by Kerr's performance, and she held them together this week.
Brittany Lang
Record: 0-2-1
Grade: D. Inkster had two captain's picks. Creamer worked out better than expected, but Lang was a bit of a disappointment. Lang should still have been chosen to be on the team, but she just didn't have it this week.
Alison Lee
Record: 1-3
Grade: F. This grade is based on her week in general and not her performance as a whole. Started with food poisoning, and was then a part of the controversial incident with Pettersen. She was able to win her singles match, but Lee can't be walking out of this event with good feelings. On the plus side, it can only get better for Lee, who is expected to make several Solheim Cups in the future.
Stacy Lewis
Record: 2-2
Grade: C. This is who Lewis is. She will be the top ranked American golfer entering the event, but there is something about the Solheim Cup that doesn't fit Lewis' game or personality. She played well with Gerina Piller, but she just doesn't have the fiery, "rah-rah" team attitude that many others have which prevents her from really taking over the team as a leader.
Brittany Lincicome
Record: 0-4
Grade: F. Only American player who didn't provide a single point. As someone who won a major and who has competed on several Solheim Cup teams, much more is expected from her at this point.
Gerina Piller
Record: 3-0-1
Grade: A+. The American MVP. She will be remembered for sinking a 10 foot putt to close out Caroline Masson and keep the United States alive, but she should also be remembered as being the first player to really compliment Stacy Lewis' game and provide the top ranked American with a safety net. Has an emotional personality that is much different than Paula Creamer's and provides a stable presence for the team.
Morgan Pressel
Record: 2-2
Grade: B-. Was the first player to beat Catriona Matthew in a singles match since 1998. Started out great with Creamer in the Friday morning matches, but the pair lost two straight after that. Still, a good week for Pressel, who has one of the best active Solheim Cup records.
Lizette Salas
Record: 1-2
Grade: C-. Was relatively hidden all week. Lost two team matches, but beat the winless Munoz on Sunday. Still trying to find her role within the team.
Angela Stanford
Record: 1-2
Grade: B+. The grade is based off a variety of factors. The first is expectations. Stanford has one of the worst Solheim Cup records out there, and was entering the week not playing particularly well. The second was her overall play. She walks out with a 1-2 record, but she played much better than her record showed. She also took down Pettersen on Sunday for the most crucial point of the day, and come out looking like a hero.
Lexi Thompson
Record: 2-0-2
Grade: A. Much like Charley Hull, Lexi Thompson will be the leader of this team moving forward. Her halve against Carlota Ciganda is the only thing that prevents this from being an A+ performance. Played lights out golf all weekend. She has many Solheim Cups in her future.
Michelle Wie
Record: 1-2
Grade: B-. Again, all based on expectations. She lost twice, but was paired with the struggling Lincicome in the first match and was paired with Lee to be taken down by the incredibly powerful team of Reid and Ciganda in her second match. Came in struggling with questions about her health, and not only played well, but dominated Caroline Hedwall in her singles match. She wasn't the liability that many thought she could have been.
Moving Forward: Team USA has the opposite problem that Team Europe has - their bench for captain is not very deep. For that reason, and because she has the affection of the team, Juli Inkster should get another go as captain of the team.
While Team Europe will be in flux every few years, Team USA will remain mostly in tact. Paula Creamer will need to start performing better - it is very rare when someone gets two captain's picks in a row. The young players are going to continue to get better and lead this team. As always, the success of the team will be on the shoulders of the veterans.