Angel Cabrera gets warm Masters welcome two years | Golf News

Angel Cabrera, the previous Masters champion who was launched from jail in 2023, obtained a warm welcome on the Masters on Wednesday.

The event has confronted backlash over Cabrera’s look at Augusta National. The Argentine spent 30 months in jail after being discovered guilty of a slew of expenses that included assault, theft, and unlawful intimation in opposition to former girlfriends.

As a former winner, the 55-year-old was invited back to Augusta this week to compete within the event and attend the Champions Dinner. He was seen assembly some of the opposite 94 gamers for the primary time, which included an interplay with Rory McIlroy.

The Northern Irishman may very well be heard saying “good to see you” earlier than congratulating Cabrera on his latest win on the PGA Tour Champions. They have been noticed chatting a few more instances earlier than McIlroy left for the placing inexperienced, based on the Mirror US.

Jon Rahm was additionally seen exchanging pleasantries with Cabrera, although the pair weren’t overly chatty. Brooks Koepka shook arms with the Argentine earlier than warming up, and Cabrera continued to be greeted warmly by others on the vary.

The day earlier than, Cabrera stated he hadn’t met many of the gamers. He defined: “I haven’t really seen anybody because it rained yesterday, I had to come register, I came early this morning. The only one I’ve always been in contact with is Gary Player. Since the situation I had, he’s always been in contact with me, always been by my side. So the only guy I talked to is Gary.” He added: “Like any colleague, he wished to provide me advice, that issues have been going to occur and issues would get higher, and that is what’s occurred.”

Fred Ridley, the Masters boss, opened up yesterday on his thoughts behind Cabrera being in attendance. He said: “We actually abhor home violence of any kind. As it pertains to Angel, Angel has served the sentence that was prescribed by the Argentine courts, and he’s the previous champion, and so he was invited.”

Cabrera also defended his right to be there, but said he respected the opinions of critics, adding: “I respect their opinion and everyone has their own opinion and I respect that. Life has given me one other alternative, I received to take benefit of that and I wish to do the suitable issues on this second alternative.”

He added: “There was a stage in my life of five years, four, five years, that they weren’t the right things I should have done. Before that I was okay, so I just have to keep doing what I know I can do right. Obviously I regret things that happened and you learn from them, but at the same time those are in the past and we have to look forward what’s coming.”

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In response to being asked whether he believed he should be at the tournament, Cabrera said: “I won the Masters, why not?”

There had been some uncertainty over whether or not Cabrera would be capable of compete within the event because of visa necessities. Ridley beforehand defined: “Angel actually is one of our great champions. As everyone knows, he has been unable to take part within the Masters the final couple of years because of legal points. Presently now we have been in fixed contact with Angel’s representatives.”

Ridley added: “He presently just isn’t capable of enter the United States. He doesn’t have a visa and I do know that course of is being labored by means of. We actually want him the best of luck with that, and we’ll positively welcome him back if he’s capable of straighten out these legal points.”