CHASKA, Minn. -- What's next for the European Team? The funniest line I heard was from former Ryder Cup captain Mark James who joked, "We'll have two task forces next time, with 12 guys on each one. That'll show them." Sometimes you get beat by a better team, but you will be graded.
(Find Team USA's Day 3 grades here.)
Grade: A+
2016 Record: Foursomes 0-0-1; Four-Ball 1-0-0; Singles: 1-0-0; Overall: 2-0-1
Career record, prior to 2016: Foursomes 0-0-1; Four-Ball 1-0-0; Singles: 1-0-0; Overall: 2-0-1
Ryder Cup appearances: 1 (2016)
One man went undefeated for the European team. Rafa was a rookie sensation, especially with his dominating performance against Jimmy Walker on Sunday. Remember his name.
Grade: F
2016 Record: Foursomes 0-1-0; Four-Ball 0-0-0; Singles: 0-1-0; Overall: 0-2-0
Career record, prior to 2016: Foursomes 0-1-0; Four-Ball 0-0-0; Singles: 0-1-0; Overall: 0-2-0
Ryder Cup appearances: 1 (2016)
Four bogeys will never win a match in perfect weather. As the anchor match, a win wouldn't have mattered to the outcome, but could have mattered for the grade. Going 0-2 gets a fail.
Grade: C
2016 Record: Foursomes 0-1-1; Four-Ball 1-1-0; Singles: 0-0-1; Overall: 1-2-2
Career record, including 2016: Foursomes 9-3-3; Four-Ball 7-4-3; Singles: 3-4-1; Overall: 19-11-7
Ryder Cup appearances: 8 (1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2012, 2014, 2016)
The epic battle Garcia and Mickelson put on completely saved the Spaniard's overall grade. A losing record in 2016 is disappointing, but I was out there and saw the heckling he had to deal with. It was shameful.
Grade: D+
2016 Record: Foursomes 0-1-0; Four-Ball 0-2-0; Singles: 1-0-0; Overall: 1-3-0
Career record, including 2016: Foursomes 0-1-2; Four-Ball 2-4-1; Singles: 3-1-0; Overall: 5-6-3
Ryder Cup appearances: 4 (2010, 2012, 2014, 2016)
Note: Captain's pick
He had a great win over Matt Kuchar in singles on Sunday, but it didn't matter by then as the cup was long gone.
Grade: B
2016 Record: Foursomes 1-1-0; Four-Ball 2-0-0; Singles: 0-1-0; Overall: 3-2-0
Career record, including 2016: Foursomes 4-3-1; Four-Ball 3-2-2; Singles: 2-1-1; Overall: 9-6-4
Ryder Cup appearances: 4 (2010, 2012, 2014, 2016)
Even with a loss, he and Patrick Reed put on a show for eight holes that will have people talking for decades. An overall winning record, Rory might have also found a long term partner for the two-man formats in Thomas Pieters.
Grade: A
2016 Record: Foursomes 1-1-0; Four-Ball 2-0-0; Singles: 1-0-0; Overall: 4-1-0
Career record, including 2016: Foursomes 1-1-0; Four-Ball 2-0-0; Singles: 1-0-0; Overall: 4-1-0
Ryder Cup appearances: 1 (2016)
Note: Captain's pick
Americans need to be afraid when they see this man on a golf course if he's playing against in the Ryder Cup. Even Tiger asked me on Sunday what I knew about the big guy from Belgium. We know all about him now.
Grade: C-
2016 Record: Foursomes 1-1-0; Four-Ball 1-1-0; Singles: 0-1-0; Overall: 2-3-0
Career record, including 2016: Foursomes 5-2-1; Four-Ball 4-3-0; Singles: 2-1-1; Overall: 11-6-2
Ryder Cup appearances: 4 (2008, 2012, 2014, 2016)
Sloppy play cost him holes against Rickie Fowler after having the lead, which turned into a loss. Being part of the three epic, emotional battles between Jordan Spieth and Patrick Reed made a losing record somewhat acceptable.
Grade: B
2016 Record: Foursomes 0-2-0; Four-Ball 1-1-0; Singles: 1-0-0; Overall: 2-3-0
Career record, including 2016: Foursomes 2-3-1; Four-Ball 3-2-1; Singles: 2-2-0; Overall: 7-7-2
Ryder Cup appearances: 4 (2006, 2008, 2014, 2016)
An amazing performance against Jordan Spieth on Sunday, two of Stenson's losses were in the great battles with Justin Rose against Spieth and Patrick Reed.
Grade: F
2016 Record: Foursomes 0-1-0; Four-Ball 0-0-0; Singles: 0-1-0; Overall: 0-2-0
Career record, including 2016: Foursomes 0-1-0; Four-Ball 0-0-0; Singles: 0-1-0; Overall: 0-2-0
Ryder Cup appearances: 1 (2016)
He got the short end of the stick Sunday going against Brandt Snedeker, but the Englishman did himself no favors making bogeys on three of the last six holes in the match.
Grade: F
2016 Record: Foursomes 0-1-0; Four-Ball 0-1-0; Singles: 0-1-0; Overall: 0-3-0
Career record, including 2016: Foursomes 9-5-4; Four-Ball 8-5-3; Singles: 3-7-0; Overall: 20-18-6
Ryder Cup appearances: 10 (1997, 1999, 2002, 2004, 2006, 2008, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2016)
Note: Captain's pick
A captain's pick who goes oh-fer is no good to his captain or his team. A sports psychologist might be needed to work out a relationship with the putter.
Grade: F
2016 Record: Foursomes 0-0-0; Four-Ball 0-2-0; Singles: 0-1-0; Overall: 0-3-0
Career record, including 2016: Foursomes 0-0-0; Four-Ball 0-2-0; Singles: 0-1-0; Overall: 0-3-0
Ryder Cup appearances: 1 (2016)
His grade was earned as much by his brother Peter as by Danny. While it's not fair to mercilessly heckle a guy, twice he had teammates, and there's a Best Buy close to the course that sells noise-canceling headphones ... or you could ask Rory for his.
Grade: C
2016 Record: Foursomes 1-0-0; Four-Ball 0-0-0; Singles: 0-1-0; Overall: 1-1-0
Career record, including 2016: Foursomes 1-0-0; Four-Ball 0-0-0; Singles: 0-1-0; Overall: 1-1-0
Ryder Cup appearances: 1 (2016)
Not surprised Wood couldn't hang with Dustin Johnson. I was more shocked that Sunday was only his second match of the week.