2026 Solheim Cup Grades

Class is in session. It’s time to dole out some grades from the 2026 Solheim Cup. Naturally, some students are getting graded on different curves. Veterans and top players play to different standards than the rookies, so let’s see who earned high marks and who needs to speak to the principal. 

Team Europe

Linn Grant: A

Four points and clearly the MVP for the Euros. Coming off an 0-4-0 showing in 2024, this was a massive turnaround for Linn. I really don't know why the Euros didn’t pair her with Maja Stark in the past, as the young Swedes seem to be an obvious, natural pairing. Did she get slightly crowned in singles by playing an ailing Angel Yin? Yes. But my hope is Linn can take some confidence from last week to turn around an otherwise sluggish season (and major career). 

Natasia Nadaud: A

At 21, Nadaud is the sixth youngest player to earn three or more points at a Solheim Cup. I honestly didn't know what to expect from the relatively unknown, long-hitter from France, but she more than stepped up last week. Pairing rookies Nadaud and Mimi Rhodes was surprising, but the two impressed and won two points for the team. That’s an easy A. 

Maja Stark: A-

Earning three points in team play carries a ton of weight to reach the winning score of 14.5. She earns a small demerit for losing her Sunday singles match to rookie Lindy Duncan, but Maja has to be near the top of the class for her week as a whole.

Esther Henseleit: B

Had she not lost a 4-up lead on Sunday through 11 holes, this grade would look different. Esther was a utility player who was only deployed in foursomes, but alongside Leona Maguire the two put on a clinic of consistency and cleaned up two points. 

Leona Maguire: C+

Barely passing with two points shows how high the stakes are for a player of Leona’s caliber. A European stalwart since 2021, Leona showed some flashes of why she needs to be on these teams. She’s a brilliant player in foursomes, but her slacking form the last few seasons showed in both singles and fourball. This could have been one of Leona’s last few Solheim Cups as a new era of Team Europe has started to develop. 

Mimi Rhodes: B

The Englishwoman validated her captain's pick and more by earning two points with fellow rookie Nadaud. She faced a tough draw in singles against world No. 1 Nelly Korda, but overall I liked what I saw from Mimi last week. Look for her to be a fixture on the European side in 2028 at Valhalla. 

Charley Hull: C

Charley is like the smart kid in class who barely shows up or studies for the test but always finds a way to somehow pass. It’s fair to question captain Anna Nordqvist for trotting Charley out with Lottie Woad four times and receiving just half a point. With eight Solheim Cups as evidence, Charley just isn’t the team player and leader you’d expect a player of her stature to be. It will be very interesting to see how she’s utilized in future Cups and if Team Europe can find her a fitting partner. 

Carlota Ciganda: B+

She should get an A alone for giving one of the greatest quotes in Solheim Cup history after dispatching Jennifer Kupcho in singles. I still think she got crowned on the 18th green, earning a half point with a par she should’ve never made after hitting two awful shots (while taking her sweet time). But that's Carlota. She’s a great villain in these team matches who you can never count out, who finds a way to get under your skin. She’s made for this event. 

Julia Lopez Ramirez: C

We didn't see much of Julia last week as the young Spaniard only played in two sessions. She won her singles match against a flat Yealimi Noh on Sunday but also helped to usher in a crucial half point alongside countrywoman Carlota Ciganda against the formidable duo of Nelly Korda and Lauren Coughlin. Julia has the potential to be a force on future European teams. 

Lottie Woad: B-

Winning her Sunday singles match against a scrappy Auston Kim to secure the crucial 14th point for Europe is what we’ve come to expect from Lottie in her young career. She’s tough to grade having been anchored to Charley in team play. I don't think she played her best in those early sessions, but on Sunday we saw a glimpse of Lottie at her best. 

Nanna Koerstz Madsen: D

She tried to get credit for the group project without really doing the work. Yes, Nanna won her singles match, but that was against a struggling Allisen Corpuz. A rough display of form on day one secured her Saturday spot on the bench, and while she tried to contribute on Sunday, it wasn’t enough for a passing grade. 

Celine Boutier: F

It was a rough week for Celine, and getting attached to Nanna on day one didn't help. The typically exceptional foursomes player didn't seem like the best fit to play alongside Carlota in fourball, either. Her game never really got off the bus all week, a shockingly uncharacteristic display.

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Team USA

Alison Lee: A

As I wrote in Monday’s Fried Egg Golf newsletter, I couldn't be more impressed by Alison’s grind to return to top form. Her massive comeback in singles gave the U.S. some hope to turn the session around, and while this result didn’t go in the Americans’ favor, I hope to see Alison finally get a deserved first LPGA win soon. 

Lauren Coughlin: A

She has that dog in her. Another massively impressive Solheim Cup from Lauren moves her to 6-1-2 overall. I don't find any of this surprising. Her game is perfect for foursomes. She’s scrappy and her relentless tenacity really shines through in this team setting. LC is going to be a shining light for the Americans for at least a couple more Cups. 

Nelly Korda: B+

Unlike the men, the top female American has found a way to show up for team match play. An unlikely foursomes pairing with Allisen Corpuz has found a way to be highly successful at 5-1-1 in the last three Cups. Despite being slightly under the weather, Nelly battled and delivered another much-needed singles point on Sunday. Overall, another successful Solheim campaign for the world No. 1. 

Lindy Duncan: B-

Like she typically does, Lindy flew under the radar and earned two points for the team. Many fans will forget that the epic Jennifer Kupcho comeback on Saturday afternoon doesn't happen if Lindy doesn’t birdie the 16th hole. A passing grade in a Solheim debut is solid work. I’m not sure if we will see Lindy again in this setting, but I was pleased to see her quietly deliver for the team. 

Rose Zhang: C

It was unfortunate that Rose and Andrea Lee weren’t paired up again after their success in 2024. Winning an irrelevant singles match padded her point total, and her only highlight came from a fourball win alongside Auston Kim. C’s get degrees, but I expect a little more from the prodigious American. 

Megan Khang: D

I did say if Khang was able to deliver even just a point for the team that it would be a successful Cup for her, and she did just that (but I want to give Alison Lee most of the credit for that point). Khang had been struggling with the putter all season, and those struggles came to the forefront on Sunday. In the very important leadoff spot in singles, Khang wasn't able to deliver what she was put on the team for. She might be great for the team room, but her game never quite made the trip out to the course. 

‍Auston Kim: C-

Auston earned a point in a tough fourball match with Rose Zhang, but you could tell the nerves were present. What I did appreciate was the way she handled herself even when it wasn't going her way. Sometimes effort can get you a passing grade, despite not quite having your best stuff. 

Jennifer Kupcho: C+

Her passing grade comes from 140 feet of putts made in Saturday afternoon’s epic comeback on the final two holes, but when you really start to check her work on the rest of the test, it just wasn't there. The only point she delivered was the one we all saw on Saturday, and she was steamrolled by a motivated Carlota Ciganda in singles. 

Andrea Lee: D

The typically consistent and reliable Andrea Lee didn't deliver where I thought her value would show in foursomes. She helped pick up a point with Yealimi Noh in Saturday fourball, but Noh did the heavy lifting in that match. The Americans needed more from the veteran last week. 

Angel Yin: F

I think Angel’s grade was decided when she stepped foot on the plane to the Netherlands. I'm not sure what the thought process was in thinking she should make the trip. Angel hadn’t really played in the months leading up to the Cup, so expecting her to then step up in high-pressure moments seemed like a big ask. I loved seeing her running around on Saturday in full Evel Knievel garb rooting on her team, but if that's the case, let her come and cheer on the team as an assistant. Captain Angela Stanford was put in a tough position, but her decision to let Angel play potentially cost the Americans the Cup.