Angel Cabrera: Masters entry off the cards after visa denial

Angel Cabrera’s name now features on the list of ‘past champions not playing’ at the Masters.

The 2009 champion of Augusta National has reportedly had his visa denied to enter the United States following his time in prison.

His agent Manuel Tagle told Golfweek that, “he will not be at the Masters,” and a decision on his visa will take “no less than eight to 10 weeks.”

Cabrera was in jail for more than two years for domestic violence charges and other charges that involved two of his ex-girlfriends.

After being incarcerated in both his home country and Brazil, he was granted early release and had been awaiting permission to leave Argentina where he is from to play at Augusta National.

Masters and Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley said in January that Cabrera would’ve been welcomed back to the Georgia venue if his legal issues were “straightened out.”

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Angel Cabrera: Visa denial means Masters drought continues

“Angel is certainly one of our great champions,” Ridley said at the Latin America Amateur Championship two months ago. “As we all know, he has been unable to participate in the Masters in the last couple of years due to legal issues.

“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 process has been worked through and we certainly wish him the best of luck with that.”

Cabrera hasn’t played at the Masters since 2019. His crowning moment at the tournament came 10 years before when he beat Kenny Perry and Chad Campbell after two playoff holes.

The 54-year-old won his first major title at the US Open at Oakmont Country Club in 2007. He made his return to the PGA Tour Champions at the Trophy Hassan II in Morocco at the end of February, coming tied for 27th.

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Matt Chivers

Now on the wrong side of 25, Matt has been playing golf since the age of 13 and was largely inspired to take up the game by countless family members who played golf during his childhood.

Matt is a member at Royal Cinque Ports in Deal playing off a 5 handicap, just a pitching wedge away from his hometown of Dover where he went to school and grew up. He has previously been a member at Etchinghill and Walmer and Kingsdown in Kent.

Having studied history at the University of Liverpool, Matt went on to pass his NCTJ Exams in Manchester a year later to fulfil his lifelong ambition of becoming a journalist. He picked up work experience along the way at places such as the Racing Post, the Independent, Sportsbeat and the Lancashire Evening Post.

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