Defeat will inspire me to make the 2009 team

THE dust has settled on the last day at Halmstad and we can all look back on what happened during that Sunday afternoon with a bit more perspective.

Therefore, I can understand why Lady Golfer has dominated this issue with where Europe goes from here in the Solheim Cup. The hours, and indeed days, after the event certainly weren't the time for recriminations and I thought Annika got it spot on by trying to lighten the mood by wearing a blue and yellow wig.

By donning her hairpiece she was saying: ‘We're really disappointed we've lost but let's look at the positives of the week.' I think that was dead right. I also tend to think she was sending out a message to the Americans along the lines of: ‘You think you've got us just where you want us, but we're not worried. We'll be back!'

There was lots to be pleased about for Europe that week. The event was played in great spirit, with fantastic support and it produced superb golf on both sides.

Professional sport, indeed any level of sport I suppose, is about winning though. And while as individuals and as a continent we can be happy with some aspects, no-one enjoyed being beaten. Put it this way, every one of us in the European team room who makes it on to the next side will remember the feeling of disappointment we had in our stomachs after we had lost.

The closing ceremony is not all that appetising after you've been beaten either. Talking to the press, travelling back home, or even writing a column are all, also, tinged with disappointment. I suppose I'm in a good position to reflect in this respect because while my debut went pretty well, the team lost. So I had some satisfaction with how I had performed personally but a sense of despair that we hadn't managed to regain the Cup.

Now a month on, similar feelings still exist. But as time has gone on the one to really come to the fore is that I am desperate to be on the side in 2009 – and be part of a victorious team. Hopefully I can use both the satisfaction at my own performance and the disappointment at defeat to spur me on to qualify for the team. In their different ways, they should provide plenty of motivation.

For a start, (again, result notwithstanding) it was the best week of my golfing life. It was fabulous. It was everything I had expected and hoped for, and more. It's a week you never want to miss out on, having experienced it once. I'm sure it must play a significant part in Laura Davies's continued enthusiasm to play at the very top of the game. A Solheim wouldn't be the same without Laura and perhaps Laura wouldn't be the same without the Solheim. She just loves it! I can understand even better now, having played in it myself, why that is the case.

If only we could have won. That would have made it the perfect week. That's why I'll be making every effort to be at Rich Harvest Fields in 2009. And hopefully be part of a victorious European side. That, I suppose, is the big question. Can we get it back in two years' time? I for one believe we can. I have no doubt about that.

We weren't THAT far away from doing it this year. Yes, we squeezed a point or two extra out of the pairs than we might have expected at various points over the first two days. But that was down to good golf and brave hearts. Nothing to apologise for there. That's what wins Solheim Cups. That's what wins team competitions full stop. We didn't leave much out on the course and that was very pleasing.

Obviously, we didn't perform as well in the singles as we wanted to. But it was fine margins which ultimately made the difference. Suzann Pettersen played brilliantly but couldn't buy a putt. Sophie Gustafson, a class player, just couldn't quite string a row of scores together. Annika lost – who would have expected that?

Turn those games around and it's a different story. Full marks to their American opponents – especially Morgan Pressel, who beat Annika – for making the difference. I believe we had a strong team this year and I believe we'll have at least as strong a team in 2009. It's going to be genuinely difficult to get on it.

The standard in Europe is rising all the time and young players such as Kiran Matharu and Louise Stahle are showing their talent. More will follow with the likes of Melissa Reid. Also, don't forget about Janice Moodie, Mhairi McKay and Patricia Meunier-Lebouc. Or Rebbeca Hudson, sure to make her debut soon.

Yes, America are strong and possibly even getting stronger. But I think Europe will too. Everyone wants to be on that team and that will increase the quality of golf. Being part of the next team is right at the top of my list of priorities.