By Tim Gavrich

GolfWRX Contributor

Day two of the 2012 Ryder Cup is in the books, as is another impressive performance by the American team. Led by another virtuoso performance by Phil Mickelson and Keegan Bradley, the Yanks built a lead of 10-6 over the European side, with Sunday’s dozen singles matches set to begin on another brilliant autumn day in Chicago.

The difference in scores has forced European captain Olazabal’s hand somewhat, as he has front-loaded his lineup somewhat, in order to try and put points on the board early and hope for some inspired play on the back end. Predictably, Captain Davis Love III has done more or less likewise, stacking the front of his list with his most dynamic players and leaving the cooler customers for the back half. It should be enough to return the Cup to American soil, but Europe was ahead 10-6 with one day left in 1999 at Brookline, and we know what happened that day.

11:03 am (all times CT): Bubba Watson (USA) vs. Luke Donald 

Watson will once again strike his opening tee shot with the pro-American crowds screaming, electrifying the beginning of the day. He wouldn’t make a great leadoff hitter in baseball, but he’s perfectly cut out for it in the Ryder Cup. Donald, however, is going to be a tough nut to crack and could easily chip and putt Bubba to death.

Advantage: Europe

11:14 am: Webb Simpson vs. Ian Poulter

Simpson was sublime this afternoon alongside Bubba Watson, but Poulter was even better, making birdie on the last five holes to help partner Rory McIlroy snatch a full point from Jason Dufner and Zach Johnson. Poults has been Europe’s clear MVP.

Advantage: Europe

11:25 am: Keegan Bradley vs. Rory McIlroy

Whatever happens between the U.S. and Euro teams, this is the match of the day. The young lifebloods of each team square off here. Bradley has been legendary alongside Phil Mickelson this week, but he’s now on his own against the number-one player in the world.

Toss-up

11:36 am: Phil Mickelson vs. Justin Rose

Mickelson’s pairings with Keegan Bradley have utterly revolutionized his Ryder Cup play. Rose is an accomplished player and younger, but Mickelson has floated above the ground for the first two days.

Advantage: USA

11:47 am: Brandt Snedeker vs. Paul Lawrie

Snedeker had a solid first two Ryder Cup matches, paired with Jim Furyk and losing to and then defeating the formidable team of Rory McIlroy and Graeme McDowell in Friday and Saturday mornings’ Foursomes matches, respectively. Lawrie has been waiting 13 years for this chance and won’t go quietly.

Toss-up

11:58 am: Dustin Johnson vs. Nicolas Colsaerts

This is the Pairing Most Likely To Hit Into The Pairing Ahead, putting two of the longest hitters in the game at odds. Colsaerts’ Saturday was decidedly less inspiring than his Friday and Johnson’s Ryder Cup has, save for a couple timely putts, been just okay. Someone’s going to get hot in this one and it could be over quickly.

Advantage: Europe

12:09 pm: Zach Johnson vs. Graeme McDowell

The gritty, persistent Johnson faces the man who secured the winning point for the European side in the 2010 Ryder Cup. That man seems less reliable this year than he was then, but he will still be a tough customer in single play, especially having had Saturday afternoon off.

Advantage: Europe

12:20 pm: Jim Furyk vs. Sergio Garcia

Furyk has been solid if unspectacular this weekend. But Sergio, like Poulter, contracts a sort of brilliant madness (or mad brilliance) in this event. And playing the underdog should only further inspire him. Furyk will fight hard, but a half or a win would be an upset in this case.

Advantage: Europe

12:31 pm: Jason Dufner vs. Peter Hanson

Dufner has exceeded the expectations of most, heading into Sunday with a 2-1-0 record alongside Zach Johnson. He has shown that he is game for the hardships of the Ryder Cup pressure-cooker. Hanson didn’t show much in his one match Friday afternoon alongside Paul Lawrie, though.

Advantage: USA

12:42 pm: Matt Kuchar vs. Lee Westwood

After seeming to struggle in practice rounds early in the week, Kuchar has risen to the occasion so far. The same cannot be said of the sputtering Westwood, whose only victory this week came by the grace of Nicolas Colsaerts phenomenal Friday play. The Westwood who’s wreaked havoc on the Ryder Cup in years past has to show up sometime, hasn’t he?

Toss-up

12:53 pm: Steve Stricker vs. Martin Kaymer

Though he and Tiger Woods (see next and last pairing) went 0-3-0 in team play this week, Stricker’s status as a veteran who is a great putter will be well suited to the pressure that can be felt in a penultimate group. If the U.S. takes care of business, this match won’t matter, but if it does, Stricker is a great candidate to secure the winning point or half-point, especially against the mightily struggling Kaymer.

Advantage: USA

1:04 pm: Tiger Woods vs. Francesco Molinari

This is not the Woods-McIlroy feature grouping many people desired (present company included), but rather it’s a rematch of the 2010 Ryder Cup singles match. Tiger beat Molinari then, and he’ll beat him this time too, whether or not the point is needed. He’s been abysmal in team play, but his singles record is excellent. Plus, he’s still Tiger Woods.

Advantage: USA

Captain Olazabal gets the slight edge for roster-craft over Captain Love, but it will still take a Herculean combination of efforts to pull the upset on Sunday, one that would top the American comeback in 1999 (the Americans had the home crowd on their side to help them that day). That day, Olazabal was the victim of Justin Leonard’s famous putt to seal Europe’s fate. You can bet he wants payback, but he’ll have to rely on his players to give it to him. It’s a tall order, but you never know. Golf is a funny game.