Angel Cabrera spent two years in Brazil’s prison as he was convicted of domestic violence. However, in 2023, the 54-year-old was released from prison, and he opined to restart his golf career. He couldn’t turn up at the 88th Masters due to visa issues. However, he made his first PGA Tour Champions appearance in Wisconsin at the American Family Insurance Championship.

But why, as a former convict, was Cabrera allowed to make his return to the PGA Tour Champions? As Golfweek reports, the Argentine pro has won five times on the PGA Tour, and thus, as a former winner, he has been eligible to play in the PGA Tour Champions event, as he was reinstated into the PGA Tour Champions and PGA Tour in 2023 December.

Furthermore, as a 2-time major winner, Cabrera can get as many sponsor exemptions for the PGA Tour Champions or the senior major events as he may opt for, whether restricted or unrestricted. This has massively benefited the 5-time PGA Tour winner, as he now contends for his first PGA Tour Champions win at the Senior Open Championship. After the third round, Cabrera finished third on the leaderboard, just five shots from the leader, K.J. Choi, going into the Sunday round.

It will not be the first time that Cabrera wins in the 2024 season. Before playing at the American Greens, the Argentine pro played at the Legends Tour’s Paul Lawrie Match Play in Hertfordshire and won his first win in the last decade and after his release from prison.

Cabrera has shown his enthusiasm to play more events and get rid of the rust he has accumulated in the past years. But will the two-time major winner be eligible to play in the 89th Masters?

How possible is Angel Cabrera’s appearance at the 2025 Masters? 

Angel Cabrera fought tooth and nail to get into the 2024 Masters field, as he wanted to give the green jacket another chance. The Argentina native had visa issues since 2016, and after being convicted, his visa to return to the Masters was rejected at first. Hence, even after Augusta National’s Chairman, Fred Ridley, shared that he would’ve warmly welcomed Cabrera, he still couldn’t play the event.

He had shared with Golf Digest, “It would be a great privilege to return and to attend the Champions Dinner with so many of the golf world’s greatest players.” And his wish was granted. For the next Masters that is the 2025 Augusta showdown, Cabrera will be eligible to tee off at Augusta National. He had won the Masters in 2009 as his second major.

Additionally, if the 54-year-old wins the Senior Open Championship, he will receive a one-year exemption to play at the PGA Tour Champions and to play the Senior Open in the future. It remains to be seen how Cabrera’s senior open final will turn out and if it will end in his favor.