Former Masters champion wins first tournament since being released from jail

Former Masters champion Angel Cabrera was released from prison last August, and the green jacket holder won his first title since returning to professional golf on Sunday

By: irishmirror.ie

Jun 16 2024
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Former Masters champion wins f

Angel Cabrera has made a return to the winners' circle for the first time since his release from prison on Sunday, claiming victory in a matchplay event on the Legends Tour.

Cabrera was in action at the tournament hosted by fellow former champion Paul Lawrie in Hertfordshire. The Argentine - who is a former Masters champion - defeated two-time DP World Tour winner James Kingston in the finale of the tournament, winning the match 3&1.

Cabrera's triumph came just 10 months after he was released from prison, having spent a total of 30 months behind bars after three of his former partners - including ex-wife Silva Rivadero - filed domestic violence charges against the two-time major winner.

He began his prison term in Brazil, before being transferred to his native Argentina in June 2021 to serve the rest of his setence. This finally came to an end this summer, and since then Cabrera has made a return to competitive golf, venturing into Europe for this week's matchplay event.

On the back of his victory over Kingston, the champion commented: "I'm very happy. I worked hard in the last three months, very hard for this. Now, for this moment, I enjoyed it. I had to concentrate and play hole by hole, I like to play match play, you know, we don't play a lot of match play.

“I can say I feel very emotional now. I am going to play next week and then I have to keep working, I’ve got to keep working because this game is very difficult.” Cabrera's future competing in the United States and on the Champions Tour remained up in the air due to his past convictions.

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Angel Cabrera was in action at Hanbury Manor

Reports revealed the 54-year-old had been yet to secure a Visa to travel to the USA, having been keen to return to this year's Masters as a past champion. Late last month, it was revealed he had been granted his visa and was planning to move to Houston permanently to continue his senior career.

His long-time coach Charlie Epps told Golfweek: "When I talked to him down there, he had really grown up, he understood what life is all about and that he had really made an ass of himself. He’s dedicated to golf and he wants to come back. He just needs to get comfortable again playing in competition. I want him to win the U.S. Senior Open.”

Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley also confirmed Cabrera was free to return to the opening major of the year. "As we all know, he has been unable to participate in the Masters the last couple of years due to legal issues," Ridley said. "Presently we have been in constant contact with Angel’s representatives.

"He presently is not able to enter the United States. He doesn’t have a visa, and I know that that process is being worked through. We certainly wish him the best of luck with that, and we’ll definitely welcome him back if he’s able to straighten out those legal issues.”