What does it mean when a team wins 6 and 5 in the Ryder cup?

Answer 1

In match play you win, lose, or tie each hole. As one plays through the course, a player will be either net ahead (e.g., "2 up"), even (e.g., "all square") or net behind (e.g., 6 down). So if a player/team is ahead by 6 (i.e., having won 6 more holes than the opponent thus far through the round) and there are only 5 holes left, they have won "6 and 5". Note there is no need to finish out the remaining 5 holes because the team that's ahead can't loss. Other possible wins include: 10 and 8 (a real blow out since this indicates the winner won the first 10 straight holes and with only 8 holes left, the loser can't win); 9 and 8, 8 and 7, 7 and 6, 6 and 5 (discussed above): 5 and 4: 4 and 3; 3 and 2; and 2 and 1