what does 9 and 7 mean in ryder cup

In the context of the Ryder Cup, "9 and 7" refers to the score of a match between two teams. Specifically, it refers to the margin of victory in a match play format, where one team wins by nine holes with seven holes remaining to be played. The Ryder Cup is an international team match-play competition that is traditionally held biennially, or once every two years. There are 28 matches played in the Ryder Cup with 28 points up for grabs. Each match win is worth a full point while half-points are awarded for ties. Winning the most holes wins the match and a point. The first team to 14 ½ points wins the Cup. In the event of a 14-14 tie, the previous Ryder Cup winning team retains the Cup.