Ex-Masters champion who was jailed for over two years eyes PGA Tour return
Former Masters and U.S. Open champion Angel Cabrera is said to be targeting a shock return to professional golf, just three months after being released from prison.
Cabrera spent over two years behind bars after being found guilty of assaulting, threatening and harassing his ex-partner Cecilia Torres Mana. The Argentinian - who has 53 professional wins to his name - had spent four-and-a-half months in a Brazilian jail, before he was finally extradited to his home country in June 2021.
In November 2022 another former girlfriend, Micaela Escudero, also filed similar charges against the 53-year-old, and Cabrera's sentence was extended to three years and ten months following his initial two-year punishment.
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After serving his sentence, Cabrera was released from prison earlier this summer and has now turned his attentions to making a return to the PGA Tour Champions, according to his former coach Charlie Epps. Epps told Golfweek : "He wants to play, he’s learned his lesson, he wants to get on with his life.
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"I think he’s in a great frame of mind for what he’s been through. He’s got to go through the mechanics of getting his Visa back and then approach the PGA Tour and I think it’s going to end up being good.” In a statement at his second trial 12 months, Cabrera admitted his time locked up had had a positive impact on his life.
"Many say prison is bad, but it’s not the case, prison has done me good,” the 53-year-old claimed. According to close friend and coach, Epps, Cabrera has been out on the golf course following his release, and shot under-par across five rounds playing in his home city of Cordoba.
Angel Cabrera spent over two years behind bars (Nicolas Aguilera/AP/REX/Shutterstock)“He demonstrated his talent and drive is still there,” his friend went on. “We played five rounds of golf at Córdoba Golf Club, where we both grew up playing, and he was always under par. Right now, he’s just trying to get his life in shape and practice and stuff like that and get here to the United States.
"He’s been humbled and says, ‘It’s all up to him.’ He knows what he needs to do and he said he’s ready for a second chance." It appears the PGA Tour are currently monitoring whether Cabrera will be granted a return to competition, with a Tour spokesperson commenting: "The Tour is aware that Angel Cabrera has been released on parole.
"While we do not have any update on his status as a PGA Tour member at this time, the Tour may consider new and relevant information to determine if any change to his status is appropriate in the future.” Having won the green jacket 14 years ago, the Argentinian was issued a lifetime invite to the Masters too. It remains unknown as to whether this invite has been revoked following Cabrera's time behind bars.
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