Day 3 U.S. Ryder Cup grades

Keegan Bradley   Sun. Record: 0-1-0 | 2012 Record: 3-1-0
Bradley wanted really badly to beat Rory McIlroy in the Sunday singles. Bradley had played some inspired golf in three wins with Phil Mickelson earlier this week, but to take down the No. 1 player in the world in the singles would have been a personal triumph. McIlroy had three consecutive birdies on the front to take a 2 up lead, but Bradley fought back. The Northern Irishman, who nearly missed his tee time Sunday, pulled away with birdies at 14 and 15 to win 2 and 1. Still, it was a special week for the former St. John's star.

Jason Dufner   Sun. Record: 1-0-0 | 2012 Record: 3-1-0
The former Auburn star left no doubt at these matches that he's the real deal. At 35, he was playing in his first team competition since college. He played like his captain expected he would: steady and quiet. Dufner's 2 up win over Peter Hanson was tense at times, but there was never much doubt that he would get the point.

Jim Furyk   Sun. Record: 0-1-0 | 2012 Record: 1-2-0
Nervous is the best way to describe the 16-time tour winner in these matches. At every turn it seemed like he was missing one putt or another, one iron shot or drive. In his Sunday singles match against Sergio Garcia, Furyk bogeyed 17 and 18 to hand the match to the Spaniard.

Dustin Johnson   Sun. Record: 1-0-0 | 2012 Record: 3-0-0
With everything in front of him going the way of the Europeans, Johnson won match six in the Sunday singles, 3 and 2, over Nicolas Colsaerts. U.S. Ryder Cup captain Davis Love III sent him out only three times this week, but when his name was called, he answered the bell.

Zach Johnson   Sun. Record: 1-0-0 | 2012 Record: 3-1-0
The former Masters champion played his brand of reserved, boring golf, the kind where you don't need to have big rallies to stay in matches. If Dufner and he hadn't run into a hot Ian Poulter in the Saturday four-balls, he would have a spotless record in these matches.

Matt Kuchar   Sun. Record: 0-1-0 | 2012 Record: 2-1-0
The Players Championship winner was in mostly good form this week. But in the singles against Lee Westwood, Kuchar had an up-and-down round. Westwood carded two late birdies to close out the match, 3 and 2. But with Dustin Johnson, Kuchar might have found his partner for match play competitions for years to come.

Phil Mickelson   Sun. Record: 0-1-0 | 2012 Record: 3-1-0
Lefty had a great week, overall. Keegan Bradley supplied him with a bolt of energy. His match against Justin Rose could have gone either way. Rose beat him 1 up on Sunday, but Mickelson should leave Medinah with his head held high.

Webb Simpson   Sun. Record: 0-1-0 | 2012 Record: 2-2-0
On Sunday, the U.S. Open winner shanked a shot at the par-3 8th hole. This didn't represent his play in any way, but it did give some inkling as to how things would end up in the match. Simpson was ahead for most of the day against Ian Poulter, but the Englishman would eventually beat him 2 up. Simpson played great with Bubba Watson earlier in the week, but on Sunday, Simpson ran into a fierce European blitz. Overall, the former Wake Forest star had a good week in his first Ryder Cup.

Brandt Snedeker   Sun. Record: 0-1-0 | 2012 Record: 1-2-0
It was time for the hot American to cool off. And it came at the wrong time in the Sunday singles with a 5 and 3 loss to Paul Lawrie. But overall, it was a good week for the FedEx Cup champion. But it appears as if he ran out of gas at the end because there is no way that Lawrie should have beat him.

Steve Stricker   Sun. Record: 0-1-0 | 2012 Record: 0-4-0
The 45-year-old, 12-time PGA Tour winner went 0-4 in the matches. His worst loss of the week came in the Sunday singles against Martin Kaymer, who hasn't played well all year. But Stricker deserves some mercy after sharing three of those defeats with Tiger Woods.

Bubba Watson   Sun. Record: 0-1-0 | 2012 Record: 2-2-0
Bubba has brought the flair and excitement of a rock concert to these matches. The routine worked in a couple of 5 and 4 wins with Webb Simpson, but by Sunday morning, Bubba's lighthearted antics had run their course. He needed three birdies on the back nine to avoid a humiliating loss to Luke Donald. Still, his 2 and 1 defeat at the hands of the Englishman must have stung. We shouldn't be surprised, though, by this outcome. Watson is now 0-3 in singles in team competitions. At Celtic Manor in 2010, he lost 4 and 3 to Miguel Angel Jimenez.

Tiger Woods   Sun. Record: 0-0-1 | 2012 Record: 0-3-1
On Sunday, the 14-time major champion got a halve in his singles match against Francesco Molinari. He 3-putted to give the win in the cup outright to the Europeans. He simply lost his concentration. Tiger was also a part of three losing partnerships this week. From these matches, he'll remember those losses more than the silly little 3-putt he had on the 18th on Sunday when the Ryder Cup was already decided.