Inconceivable

So pretty much all i remember from Bridge on the River Kwai as a kid was that it had that whistling song I knew from The Parent Trap, they blew up a bridge, and ObiWan was in it. Years later I found out it was actually a highly respected movie. Melissa and I watched it Saturday night with Melissa and Andy. I really enjoyed it. The morality play aspect of it centering on Alec Guiness's character really sucked me in. I could have used more of that and less of the traipsing through the jungle stuff, but oh well.

On the DVD there was a trailer for Lawrence of Arabia. I have seen the movie but it got me thinking, who was fighting in that movie? Lawrence led the Arabs against whom? That led me to Wikipedia as questions like that often do. The Ottoman Empire is the answer and if you are getting confused, as I was, then I suggest you check out the short version of Middle East history.

TV Update: The OC, Lost, Scrubs, Alias, West Wing, Arrested Development, Desperate Housewives

Now to the real meat of the weekend, the Masters. Man what a show. The broadcast Saturday wasn't the best. Due to the rain, the leaders didn't get going till late and only got to play nine holes. Other than Tiger showing he was back in the hunt, not too much happened. By the time I woke up Sunday morning, Tiger had gone from 3 behind to 3 ahead. Tiger had charged with seven birdies in a row and DiMarco had fallen apart starting with a double on his first hole of the morning. I pretty much figured Tiger would run away from the field in the last round and DiMarco, though still close, would fall apart. I was pissed that the defining part of the tournament had occurred while I was asleep and while it was not on TV. Thank God I didn't bet on that.

Things started out almost as I expected them to. Tiger came out and birdied the first two holes. DiMarco, while not making as many birdies as he could, refused to fall apart. Then Tiger 3-putted the 5th hole for a bogey and I remember thinking, this could get interesting. But again, DiMarco just couldn't get the birdies going. The rest of the field at this stage is no where close so it's purely a slug fest between these two. After the front nine Tiger was still up by 3, but only up by 3, and as the cliche goes, the Masters doesn't start till the back nine on Sunday.

Tiger bogeys 10 and the lead drops to 2. DiMarco birdies 11 and the lead drops to 1. Melissa at this point says something like, "I didn't know golf could be this exciting." DiMarco bogeys 12, and the lead goes back to 2. Push on 13. DiMarco birdies 14 and the lead is down to 1. Push on 15. With only three holes left of the tournament Tiger has the lead by only one stroke, and DiMarco will not go away. Then the defining moment of the day, Tiger chips in from off the green to birdie the hole. Wow what a television moment. Melissa and I were jumping up and down and I almost beat a hole through the coffee table. DiMarco missed his birdie putt so the lead is now 2 with 2 to go. Tiger gets into trouble off the tee and really is lucky to come away with only a bogey.

One hole left and Tiger is only ahead by one stroke. The emotion of the chip-in seems like yesterday. Tiger winds up in the trap and DiMarco leaves it short. Tiger hits an OK sand shot and DiMarco's chip almost wins the tournament, but not quite. Tiger misses his par putt but DiMarco makes his to send us to a sudden death playoff. Unbelievable. Who would have predicted that? DiMarco winds up in the same place as a moment ago just in front of the green on 18, while Woods has a birdie putt. DiMarco makes a decent chip, but Tiger sinks his putt to win the tournament and his fourth green jacket. What a ride.