Ryder Cup Day 2 preview: Pairings and what Team U.S. needs to do

GUIDONIA MONTECELIO, Italy -- It took until 2:01 p.m. local time for America to lead a match for the first time in the 44th Ryder Cup. The novelty of standing in the Italian sun had since worn off, with spectators cramming into the small pockets of shade, stepping through crunched beer cans and twisted plastic water bottles as various chants of "Ole, Ole, Ole" broke out.

It was Justin Thomas who finally turned part of the scoreboard red, after a morning session where Europe dominated the foursomes 4-0 and made a quick start to the fourballs. Thomas' birdie on the par-4 6th hole brought a temporary halt to the blue attack, but there was to be no firm U.S. riposte in the afternoon session with…