BOCA RATON, Fla. — Ángel Cabrera gained on the PGA Tour Champions on Sunday, 20 months after he was launched after spending two years in an Argentine jail for gender violence. He made a late birdie for a 1-under 71 to win the inaugural James Hardie Professional Soccer Corridor of Fame Invitational.
Cabrera, a former Masters and U.S. Open champion, was imprisoned for threats and harassment in opposition to two of his ex-girlfriends. He was launched on parole in August 2023 and cleared to return to the PGA Tour Champions later that yr.
He returns to the Masters subsequent week — former champions have lifetime exemptions — and the 55-year-old Argentine often called “Pato” will arrive together with his first victory in additional than 10 years.
“The whole lot I’ve gone by the previous couple of years, being right here, having an opportunity to win, could be very emotional,” Cabrera mentioned after he gained.
Cabrera, who gained the 2007 U.S. Open at Oakmont and the 2009 Masters in a playoff, was sentenced in July 2021 to 2 years in jail for threats and harassment of Cecilia Torres Mana, his companion between 2016 and 2018.
In November 2022, he was additionally on trial for threats and harassment in opposition to Micaela Escudero, one other of his ex-girlfriends. Cabrera pleaded responsible, the courtroom made the 2 sentences concurrent and gave him three years and 10 months in jail.
In a prolonged interview with Golf Digest within the months after he was launched on parole, Cabrera mentioned he was embarrassed by his habits and requested his former companions for forgiveness.
“I’m repentant and embarrassed,” Cabrera mentioned. “I made severe errors. I refused to take heed to anybody and did what I needed, how I needed and after I needed. That was improper. I ask Micaela for forgiveness. I ask Celia for forgiveness. That they had the dangerous luck of crossing paths with me after I was at my worst. I wasn’t the satan, however I did dangerous issues.”
The victory means Cabrera is now absolutely exempt on the 50-and-older circuit by 2026. And he goes to the Masters on a excessive observe.
“I am unable to wait to see him,” Adam Scott mentioned Sunday at Augusta Nationwide. “It is a pleased factor for me. We have a reasonably lengthy historical past. I first met him on the European Tour earlier than we each have been on the PGA Tour. We have performed Presidents Cups, we have been companions.”
Scott gained the 2013 Masters in a playoff in opposition to Cabrera.
“I am thrilled he will be again becoming a member of us this yr,” he mentioned.
Cabrera had performed solely twice on the PGA Tour Champions this yr and received on this event on the final minute when Mark Hensby withdrew.
He was tied with K.J. Choi till a birdie on the seventeenth gap, and he safely discovered the 18th inexperienced for a two-putt par from 18 toes as Choi completed with a double bogey.
Cabrera gained $330,000 for the victory, his first on the PGA Tour Champions.
Cabrera informed The Each day Mail in an interview printed final week that spending time in jail is “one of many worst issues that may occur to a human being, not with the ability to have freedom.”
“The shortage of freedom is one thing actually tough, actually exhausting,” he mentioned. “And then again, you recognize, I can let you know that crucial factor I really feel proper now’s the second probability, the chance to get again heading in the right direction.”
