Rory McIlroy found note from jailed Masters | Golf News

Rory McIlroy shared a touching anecdote about discovering a note from Angel Cabrera in his locker on the morning of his triumphant Masters victory.

The golfer from Northern Ireland lastly sealed the profession Grand Slam and donned his first Green Jacket on Sunday. He will earn big prize money – albeit with a hefty tax invoice – and was rapidly congratulated by Phil Mickelson amongst quite a few others. 

However, his day at Augusta National started with an sudden token from Cabrera, the 2009 Masters champion who was making his comeback after being launched from jail in 2023.

Cabrera served 30 months for assaulting two former companions, Cecilia Torres Mana and Micaela Escudero, resulting in contentious debates over his return to the celebrated match, with girls’s rights teams voicing their opposition. Nonetheless, Fred Ridley, chair of the Masters and Augusta National, stood by Cabrera’s inclusion.

Following his win on the 89th Masters, McIlroy disclosed the shock he encountered that morning. “I got to my locker this morning and I opened it up, and there was a note in there from Angel Cabrera,” he recounted.

Cabrera additionally justified his presence on the occasion amid backlash. “I respect their opinion and everybody has their own opinion and I respect that,” he stated on Tuesday.

“Life has given me another opportunity, I got to take advantage of that and I want to do the right things in this second opportunity. 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 used to be okay, so I simply must keep doing what I do know I can do proper. Obviously I remorse issues that occurred and also you study from them, however on the similar time these are up to now and we have now to look ahead what’s coming.”

When questioned whether he should be competing at Augusta National this week, he answered confidently: “I received the Masters, why not?”.

By advantage of his Masters victory, Cabrera attended the celebrated Champions Dinner on Tuesday and is set to obtain an invitation to return subsequent yr.