Angel Cabrera is a two-time major champion, who is perhaps more known for his off-course demeanours in recent years…
The Argentine won the US Open in 2007, before following it up with victory at the Masters Tournament in 2009, in a glittering golfing career that has seen the Argentine win over 50 times. He has wins on the PGA Tour, DP World Tour, and PGA Tour Latinoamericas among many others.
His senior career has also been strong, winning on both the European Legends Tour and the PGA Tour Champions. His first three wins on the latter all came in 2025, with two of those coming at back-to-back major championships. The Argentine was the winner at the Regions Tradition, before winning the Senior PGA Championship just seven days later!
However, fans could have been forgiven for thinking that the Argentine’s days in professional golf were numbered, given he spent over two years in prison for domestic abuse.
The Cabrera debate was a feature of the build-up to the 2025 Masters, with Augusta National allowing him back to the event after his crimes and incarceration. In 2024, Augusta chairman Fred Ridley said the club would welcome “one of our great champions” back if he resolved the visa issues that were a byproduct of his conviction. He didn’t manage to play in 2024.
Why did Angel Cabrera go to prison?
In August 2023, Cabrera was released from jail on parole after he completed two years locked up for gender violence cases against two ex-girlfriends.
“Cabrera has internalised the damaging mistakes he made. He regrets it,” judge Cristóbal Laje Ros of Cordoba province said. “He will return to his home with his family.”
He was sentenced in July 2021 for threats and harassment against Cecilia Torres Mana. In November 2022, he was also tried for the same offences against Micaela Escudero. He pleaded guilty, and he was given three years and 10 months.
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During the investigation, Cabrera went to the USA in 2020 without telling local authorities. Cordoba province sought to arrest him internationally, and he went to Brazil before being extradited to Argentina.
Golf Digest reported that Cabrera had treatment for alcoholism. Details of Cabrera’s case are disturbing, not least the occurrences when he assaulted, stalked and tried to run over Cecilia Torres Mana. Mana has spoken about how she was “physically, psychologically, and sexually abused.”
Cabrera has since said he is embarrassed by his crimes. “I ask Micaela for forgiveness. I ask Cecilia for forgiveness. They had the bad luck of crossing paths with me when I was at my worst. I wasn’t the devil, but I did bad things,” he said to Golf Digest.
In chairman Ridley’s 2025 pre-tournament press conference, he said:
“We certainly abhor domestic violence of any type. As it relates to Angel, Angel has served the sentence that was prescribed by the Argentine courts, and he is the past champion, and so he was invited.”
Angel Cabrera | Player Profile
Personal Information
Name: Angel Leopoldo Cabrera
Born: September 12, 1969
Nationality: Argentina
Residence: Cordoba, Argentina
Career
Turned Pro: 1989
Professional Wins: 57
Highest World Ranking: 9
Best Results In Majors
Best Finishes:
– Masters Tournament – WON (2009)
– PGA Championship – T19 (2000)
– US Open – Won (2007)
– Open Championship – T4 (1999)
Professional Wins – 57
1991 (1) – San Diego Grand Prix
1992 (1) – Norpatagonico Open
1994 (4) – Villa Gessel Grand Prix, Abierto del Sur, Abierto Visa del Centro, Nautico Hacoaj Grand Prix
1995 (3) – Abierto del Litoral, Paraguay Open, El Rodeo Open
1996 (4) – Abierto del Sur, Santiago del Estero Open, Volvo Masters of Latin America, Viña del Mar Open
1997 (1) – Abierto Visa del Centro
1998 (2) – Argentine PGA Championship, Aberto do Brasil
1999 (2) – Torneo de Maestros Telefonica, Aberto do Brasil
2001 (4) – Open de Argentina, Torneo de Maestros Telefonica, Ascochingas Tournament, La Cumbre Tournament
2002 (4) – Benson & Hedges International Open, Abierto de Argentina, Rio Cuarto Tournament, Las Delicias Tournament
2004 (1) – Abierto del Sur
2005 (2) – BMW Championship, Tourneo de Maestros
2006 (1) – Abierto Visa del Centro
2007 (5) – Abierto Visa del Centro, US Open, Tourneo de Maestros, Barclays Singapore Open, PGA Grand Slam of Golf
2008 (1) – Cordoba PGA Championship
2009 (3) – Masters Tournament, Angel Cabrera Tour 2nd Tournament, Gary Player Invitational
2012 (2) – Visa Open de Argentina, Angel Cabrera Classic
2013 (2) – Abierto OSDE del Centro, Angel Cabrera Classic
2015 (1) – Greenbrier Classic
2017 (1) – PNC Bank Challenge
PGA Tour Champions & European Legends Tour Wins:
2024 (1) – Paul Lawrie Match Play
2025 (3) – James Hardie Pro-Football Hall of Fame Invitational, Regions Tradition, Senior PGA Championship
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) Angel Cabrera
Why was Angel Cabrera in jail?
Angel Cabrera was in jail for gender violence cases against his ex-girlfriends. He harassed and threatened Ceclila Torres Mana and Micaela Escudero.
He was sentenced in July 2021 and was released in August 2023.
How many majors has Angel Cabrera won?
Angel Cabrera is a two-time major champion. The Argentina won the 2007 US Open at Oakmont, before then being victorious at the Masters at Augusta National in 2009.
What year did Angel Cabrera win the Masters?
Angel Cabrera won the Masters in 2009.
Where is Angel Cabrera from?
Angel Cabrera is from Cordoba in Argentina.
Other Angel Cabrera Articles
The Masters will welcome Angel Cabrera if legal issues are ‘straightened out’
Former champion Angel Cabrera out of the Masters after visa denial
Should the Masters have welcomed Angel Cabrera back? What do you make of Angel Cabrera’s redemption story and his career? Tell us on X!
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