AUGUSTA, Ga. — Angel Cabrera mentioned he understands if there are individuals who do not assume he ought to be enjoying on this week’s Masters after he was imprisoned for assaulting and threatening two of his ex-girlfriends.
However Cabrera, the 2009 Masters champion, mentioned he deserves to be within the area as a former winner of a inexperienced jacket who thus has a lifetime exemption into the match.
“I received the Masters, why not?” Cabrera mentioned by an interpreter Tuesday after enjoying a observe spherical at Augusta Nationwide Golf Membership.
Requested what he would say to individuals who assume he should not be enjoying within the Masters, Cabrera mentioned, “I respect their opinion, and everyone has their very own opinion.”
Cabrera, 55, hasn’t performed within the Masters since lacking the reduce in 2019. He needed to play within the match final yr, however had visa issues and could not journey to the U.S.
Cabrera, from Argentina, was sentenced in July 2021 to 2 years in jail for threats and harassment of Cecilia Torres Mana, his accomplice 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. After Cabrera pleaded responsible, the courtroom made the 2 sentences concurrent and gave him three years and 10 months in jail.
He was launched on parole in August 2023 and cleared to return to the PGA Tour Champions later that yr.
“There was a stage in my life of 4, 5 years, that they weren’t the appropriate issues I ought to have carried out,” Cabrera mentioned. “Earlier than that I used to be OK, so I simply must hold doing what I do know I can do proper.”
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 hearken to anybody and did what I needed, how I needed and after I needed. That was fallacious. I ask Micaela for forgiveness. I ask Cecilia 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.”
Cabrera told Golf Digest that he underwent therapy for alcohol habit, together with taking each day drugs to make him sick if he drinks. He mentioned he intends to remain sober for the rest of his life.
On Tuesday, Cabrera mentioned life has given him a second probability.
“I acquired to reap the benefits of that, and I need to do the appropriate issues on this second alternative,” he mentioned.
On Sunday, Cabrera captured the James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational on the Previous Course at Damaged Sound Membership in Boca Raton, Florida, his first victory on the PGA Tour Champions circuit.
Cabrera attended the annual Champions Dinner at Augusta Nationwide Golf Membership on Tuesday night time.
Adam Scott, who defeated Cabrera in a playoff to win the 2013 Masters, mentioned he was trying ahead to seeing him.
“I am unable to wait to see him,” Scott instructed The Related Press on Sunday. “It is a joyful factor for me. We have got 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.”
The Related Press contributed to this report.
