AUGUSTA, Ga. — On a bluebird Tuesday afternoon at Augusta National, 55-year-old Angel Cabrera was banging balls on the right end of the glaming practice range in preparation for his 21st Masters start but first since 2019. Gone were the Ping and South Africa Airways logos he wore on his hat and shirt, respectively, when he won here in 2009, replaced by his interlocking initials, AC, in both Spots. In this environment, attentive golf fans may recognize Cabrera, but maybe not if they were wandering the streets. His middle is wider than Trevor Immelman slipped over his shoulders over his green jacket. The bag under his eyes was getting heavier and heavier, and his neat beard was mostly gray.
Cabrera’s swingman lacks some pop music, and when he beat Kenny Perry and Chad Campbell in the playoffs, you might remember being South America’s first Masters champion, but you don’t have to look at his groove driver for a long time to infer that he can still play. Last week, he scored two KJ Choi titles with 11 points last week with 11 points in the 54-hole PGA Tour event in South Florida.
This victory has attracted a lot of attention because it is Cabrera’s release from parole in Argentina prisons in March 2023. Over the past 30 months, Cabrera has served in three different prisons, demanding allegations of domestic violence against two ex-girlfriends, including allegations of domestic violence filed by two ex-girlfriends; in one example, Cabrera admitted to throwing a cell phone over the head of a partner.
Cabrera’s prison time began in early 2021 in Rio de Janeiro, where he awaited the trial date in his hometown of Argentina. He had a roommate in Rio, but nothing else: the four square meters of living space he recalled with cement mattresses and scraps of fabric. In June 2021, he was extradited to his home country, where he was convicted and imprisoned. “It’s a relatively good environment,” Cabrera told Daily Mail last month. “This is not a dangerous person,” he said, practicing swings with a broom handle and reading golf magazines to stay in touch with the game. “I thought of Augusta,” he told mail“But I’m not here.”
On Tuesday, Cabrera is back.
The Augusta National Range is bustling under cloudless skies, though not Cabrera and his son Angel Jr., who is on the bag this week. There are two open spaces on their left and three on their right. When the elder Cabrera began to end his meeting, 2003 Masters champion Mike Weir approached him, greeted him, and set up shops on two bays. A few minutes later, José María Olazábal’s caddie, Lorenzo Gagli, strolled to Cabreras and held hands with both of them. Justin Rose hid behind him and squeezed his shoulders to congratulate him on his victory in Florida as Cabrera finished his practice and rode the ride beside the waiting range. The scene represents what Cabrera said on Tuesday was one of the things he least missed to compete for golf: friendship, or, as he said, the “golf family.”
However, not everyone welcomed Cabrera back to the Masters with open arms.
Several columnists criticized his existence (including here, here and here). There is no shortage of similar sights on social media; Jamie Klingler, co-founder of the Social Justice, took back the streets, told the BBC: “As long as male athletes can stand out, we can forgive those men who hit women.”
Angel Cabrera wins the eve of the late prison master’s return
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Kevin Cunningham
Maybe you feel the same way. Maybe you don’t think Cabrera has a business back into such a famous golf tournament, let alone support the women’s competition in recent years in the case of the Augusta National Women’s Amateurs. It was pointed out that Cabrera was also welcomed to return to the same club, with then-chairman Billy Payne publicly scolding Tiger Woods for committing crimes rather than crimes, but for a continuous act of infidelity. “It’s not that he’s acting so much,” Payne said. “The fact is that he’s disappointed with all of us, and more importantly, our children and our grandchildren. Our heroes don’t meet the expectations of our role models for our children.” Maybe you feel the same words should be applied to Cabrera.
Maybe you don’t feel that way at all.
Maybe you feel that justice has been served, Cabrera has suffered, and now he deserves a second chance in life and golf. You might also think it’s not the Augusta National decision whether Cabrera (through his past title status) is not worthy or suitable for competition, despite his criminal offenses, his position in the field is like the Fred couple or Rory McIlroy.
Maybe you are still unsure of how you feel.
Cabrera knows this. After a Tuesday practice with Jhonattan Vegas, Cabrera met with reporters in the Habit News community behind the clubhouse. As he did in other interviews, he regretted it, even if it wasn’t extensive. Cabrera mentioned five questions, “What would you say to people who might think you shouldn’t be here?”
“I respect their opinions, everyone has their own opinions, and I respect that,” he said.
Later there were two questions: “Personally, what have you done in the past, do you think you belong here?”
“I won the Masters,” Cabrera replied. “why not?”
There will certainly be more difficult problems – if it weren’t for Cabrera, then the Augusta President Fred Ridley, who was scheduled to meet with the media, would be ready for Ridley, who was scheduled to meet with the media. His answer will be direct, but to measure. Asked about Cabrera’s status at the time, Ridley said a year ago: “He is not able to enter the United States at the moment. He does not have a visa, and I know the process is passing. On Wednesday, Ridley will likely do it: Welcome back to the 2009 Masters championship without delving into the decision whether the club is deciding to give him the time to start.
When he spoke to reporters through an interpreter Tuesday afternoon, Cabrera said he hadn’t had many opportunities to catch up with friends and peers so far this week. He said the only player he has contacted in recent years was a three-time Masters champion Gary player who wrote a letter while in prison. “He wanted to give me advice that things will happen and things will get better,” Cabrera said.
On Tuesday night, Cabrera saw more familiar faces at the championship dinner on the second floor of the Augusta National Clubhouse. On Scottie Scheffler’s menu are Texas-style chili, wood-burning denim ribeye and black redfish. Premium wines and cold beer flowing. The story was told and laughter was shared. In the group photo released by the club, Cabrera is wearing a green jacket and a yellow tie next to Weir and 2021 winner hideki Matsuyama.
On Tuesday afternoon, Cabrera was asked about any regrets he had about him.
“Obviously, I regret what happened, you learn from them,” he said. “But at the same time, these are the past and we have to look forward to what is about to happen.”
Alan bastable
Golf.comEdit
As executive editor of Golf.com, Bastable is responsible for editorial guidance and voice for one of the game’s most respected and highly trafficked news and service websites. He wore many hats – editing, writing, conceiving, developing, breaking his daydream of 80 in one day – and was lucky enough to work with such a talented and hardworking writer, editor and producer. He was the feature editor for Golf Magazine before Golf.com caught Reins. He is a graduate of the University of Richmond and Columbia Journalism, living in New Jersey with his wife and children of four.
