Of course Donald was saying all the right things on the eve of Europe claiming a fifth away win, following 1987, 1995, 2004 and 2012.
“Their job is not done yet. I’m not going to be complacent. They will have plenty of fight. We’re trying to get to 14½ points first,” he said, trotting out the usual platitudes you’d expect from a captain who has planned meticulously for this moment since winning in Rome two years ago.
But even he let slip that he “didn’t really imagine this” as a scenario at the end of day two.
And what a scenario it is.
This is the largest lead a European team has held at this stage, eclipsing the 11-5 advantage they built at Oakland Hills in 2004, when they closed out a record 18½-9½ away triumph.
For the US to overturn this, they will need to win 10 of the 12 points on offer. The most secured by either team on the final day is 8½ – the US in 1979 and 1999, and Europe in 2006 and 2012.
Only four of the 22 Ryder Cups since Europe joined in 1979 has seen a team come from behind at the end of day two to win – 1993, 1995, 1999 and 2012.
It is also the largest lead by any away side as Europe look to buck the trend of huge home wins – although the run of big blow-out victories looks set to be extended to six.
The past five have been won by the home team by five points (Europe, 2014), six (US, 2016), seven (Europe, 2018), 10 (US, 2021), five (Europe 2023).
Eight of the past 10 Ryder Cups have been won by a margin of five or more points. The gap was never more than three points in each of the previous eight editions (1987 to 2002).
The average margin of victory between 1983 and 1999 was 1.3 points, since then it has been 5.5.