Angel Cabrera has made the controversial decision to return to Augusta, 16 years after winning the tournament – and after spending more than two years in prison
Angel Cabrera, the former Masters winner who was jailed in 2021 following accusations of domestic violence, will be returning to Augusta this year – and fellow golfer Adam Scott has shared his thoughts on the controversial move.
Cabrera, who won the green jacket in 2009, was sentenced to 30 months in prison for threats and harassment against two women. The 55-year-old will be competing in Augusta this week following his win at the James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational – his first in more than 10 years.
At first there was uncertainty over whether Cabrera would be able to return as he awaited his visa. Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley previously said: “Angel certainly is one of our great champions. As we all know, he has been unable to participate in the Masters the last couple of years due to legal issues.
“Presently we have been in constant contact with Angel’s representatives.”
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Ridley added: “He presently is not able to enter the United States. He doesn’t have a visa and I know that process is being worked through. We certainly wish him the best of luck with that, and we’ll definitely welcome him back if he’s able to straighten out those legal issues.”
While some have criticised his return, Adam Scott – who won in 2013 – said: “I’m thrilled he’s going to be back joining us this year. I can’t wait to see him. It’s a happy thing for me.”
Cabrera, 55, opened up about his conviction in an interview with the Daily Mail last month. He said the years in prison were “really tough”, and added: “Right now, I’m fine. But I regret everything that I have done wrongly in my past and I am also frustrated that I dumped very, very important years of my life. I made mistakes.”
He said he found the lack of freedom “really difficult, really hard”, but said: “On the other hand, you know, I can tell you that the most important thing I feel right now is the second chance, the opportunity to get back on the right track.”
In 2023, he told Golf Digest: “I am repentant and embarrassed. I made serious mistakes. I refused to listen to anyone and did what I wanted, how I wanted and when I wanted. I wasn’t the devil, but I did bad things.”
