After Serving a 30-Month Prison Sentence, Will Augusta National Invite This Disgraced Champion Back to the Masters?

The Masters Tournament, one of the four men’s major golf championships, is among the most prestigious and revered events for golfers and golf aficionados. While the championship saw players of high caliber, not everyone could really live up to its glory. Such is the case of a disgraced champion, who served 30 months behind bars in multiple prisons. Now, the question is, will find his name on the invitee list to the Master’s mecca, Augusta National?

The player, who ended up collapsing his Masters title legacy and an exceptional golf career, is now released from prison and wishes to get back home and spend time with family. His name remained missing on Masters’ last year’s invitee list. From the green jacket to his prison time, the decision would be based on a lot of factors. 

Why did the former PGA Tour Pro serve time behind bars?

Donning the green jacket is like a dream come true for every golfer. However, only a handful are able to turn it into a reality. In 2009, this dream came true for Argentina-born golfer Ángel Leopoldo Cabrera. The former US Open champion took home the Masters’ title by defeating Chad Campbell after the first playoff hole and Kenny Perry in the second.

After Campbell missed his 4-foot par putt and got eliminated, Cabrera defeated him by making par in the second playoff. He also became the first Argentine to win the title. But he tainted his Master’s legacy with his immoral behavior.

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Cabrera’s legal woes started in 2016 when he was accused of verbal threats and physical assault by his ex-wife Silva Rivadero and two of his ex-girlfriends. Not only this, but he faced domestic abuse charges by Micaela Escudero and Cecilia Torres Mana, who filed physical and verbal abuse allegations against him.

Thereafter, not only his reputation, but his golf career also went for a toss after he was slapped with a Red Notice. However, in 2020 he flew to Senior Players Championship in Akron, Ohio without informing the authorities. His return triggered an Interpol alert and  Cabrera had to serve a few months in prison. He was finally extradited to Argentina in 2021. Now, Cabrera has come out after serving a well-behaved tenure in prison and is looking forward to new beginnings. 

Ángel Cabrera hopes for a new phase of life!

On Friday, Angel Cabrera was released on parole after two years following gender violence cases. El Pato has refused to do any press conference or release an official statement, Angel told Golf Digest through his manager Manuel Tagle, “I just want to go home, be with my family, and start a new phase of my life,”. His partner Yamila Alvarez will go to Monte Cristo to receive him from the prison there.

Prior to the Masters, Cabrera won the US Open in 2006 and has made multiple top 10 finishes in the major championships. It is reported that Cabrera was appreciated for his good prison behavior, but again, the question related to his return to the prestigious Masters Championship still remains debatable.

Cabrera wasn’t included in the 2023 Masters list of invitees for obvious reasons. The list of invitees for the upcoming season hasn’t been prepared yet. His parole rested on the fact that he was a “well-behaved and responsive prisoner”, will his accolades take prominence in this decision? A lot will be taken into consideration, and only time will tell if the 53-year-old would be able to revive his golf career.

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