Angel Cabrera wins on eve of post-prison Masters return

Two-time major champion Angel Cabrera is about to make his first appearance at Augusta National since serving a lengthy prison sentence. But days before the 2025 Masters begins, Cabrera achieved a different first: winning a PGA Tour Champions event.

Cabrera’s prison experience

From 2021 to 2023, Cabrera served 30 months in prison between different facilities in Brazil and Argentina. He eventually stood trial and was found guilty of two counts of assault against his ex-girlfriend, Cecilia Torres Mana. Then in 2022, he was found guilty of assaulting his ex-girlfriend, Micaela Escudero.

Cabrera was released from prison in August 2023, and in 2024 he returned to competitive golf on the PGA Tour Champions. Last season, the 55-year-old played 12 events on the senior circuit, securing two top-10 finishes.

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Two weeks ago, Cabrera had this to say to the Daily Mail:

“Right now, I’m fine,” Cabrera said. “But I regret everything that I have done wrongly in my past. I am also frustrated that I dumped very, very important years of my life. I made mistakes.”

Cabrera’s PGA Tour Champions win

Following his successful 2024 season, Cabrera is playing the PGA Tour Champions tour again this year. In his first start at the Trophy Hassan II in February, he finished T19. Then came last week.

Following the announcement that he would return to the Masters this year, Cabrera teed it up at the James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational. Initially, he was an alternate for the event, but a late withdrawal earned him a spot.

He made it count.

Cabrera was hot out of the gate, shooting 68 and 66 to hold at least a share of the lead after the first and second rounds.

On Sunday, Cabrera grinded out a one-under 71, which featured a late birdie on 17, to defeat K.J. Choi by two shots. It marked Cabrera’s first-career PGA Tour Champions victory, and his first win of any kind in 10 years.

“It’s very emotional after everything that I’ve gone through the last couple years,” Cabrera told reporters on Sunday. “So being here to have these chances again and win again for me is very much. And obviously it was a hard battle out there.”

Cabrera’s Masters return

With his sentence served, Cabrera, who won the 2009 Masters and the 2007 U.S. Open, was invited to play the 2024 Masters as a past champion.

But an issue with his visa prevented Cabrera from making his return to Augusta National. With his visa problems resolved, Cabrera again received an invite to play from Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley, and this time he was able to accept.

In his recent Daily Mail interview, Cabrera spoke to the importance of his second chance at a pro golf career following his time in prison.

“It is one of the worst things that can happen to a human being, not being able to have freedom. The lack of freedom is something really difficult, really hard,” Cabrera said. “On the other hand, you know, I can tell you that the most important thing I feel right now is the second chance, the opportunity to get back on the right track.”

His unexpected victory Sunday shows that, at least when it comes to his game, he’s back on that track. And he’ll have another opportunity this week at Augusta National.

Following his win Sunday, Cabrera said he wasn’t quite ready to turn his attention to the Masters. Instead, he hoped to savor his unlikely victory for a little while.

“Right now, I want to enjoy this,” he said. “The Masters I’m going to be walking hole by hole, but I want to enjoy this right now.”