Past Champion Angel Cabrera Might Not Play in This Year's Masters
The Masters Tournament updated its invitation list via its website on Tuesday and Angel Cabrera’s name appears as a past champion who is not playing in the event.
Cabrera, the 2009 champion who was released from an Argentina jail on parole in August after serving two years for domestic violence and assault, has so far been unable to obtain a visa to return to the United States.
His manager Manuel Tagle confirmed that Cabrera, who also won the 2007 U.S. Open, is seeking to regain a visa to travel to the U.S. and elsewhere.
"While competing in the Masters again is a dream, securing a visa is Angel's priority at the moment so he can resume his professional golf career," Tagle wrote in an email to Golfweek. "We are working on getting an appointment with the U.S. Embassy in Argentina. Probably early March as his visa has expired January 2024."
Augusta chairman Fred Ridley commented about Cabrera’s status Thursday at the Latin America Amateur Championship, which is being played in Panama.
Angel Cabrera has been cleared to return to play on the PGA Tour Champions.
Michael Madrid/USA TODAY Sports
"Angel certainly is one of our great champions. As we all know, he has been unable to participate in the Masters the last couple years due to legal issues," Ridley said. "Presently, we have been in contact with Angel's representatives. 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."
The PGA Tour has cleared Cabrera to return to the PGA Tour Champions, where he would have conditional status. He is scheduled to play in a Champions tournament in February in Morocco.
Cabrera, 54, has a lifetime invitation to the tournament for his playoff victory over Kenny Perry and Chad Campbell. If he participates he would not be taking a spot from anyone in the field, which has no alternates.
Cabrera was in prison due to threats and harassment of Cecilia Torres Mana, his partner of two years. Another former partner, Micaele Escudero, was added to the case.
In a Golf Digest interview last month, Cabrera said "I made serious mistakes" and asked for forgiveness from his previous partners.
“They had the bad luck of being with me when I was at my worst. I wasn’t the devil, but I did bad things. I am deeply embarrassed because I disappointed the people closest to me—and everyone who loves me through golf,” he said. “Golf gave me everything, and I know I will never be able to repay the debt I owe this sport.”
To date, the Masters has 79 players qualified for its tournament, which is April 11-14. That will increase by at least one this weekend when the winner of the Latin America Amateur Championship is offered a spot in the field.
Last weekend’s winner of the Sony Open, Grayson Murray, was the most recent to qualify.
Players can still earn a spot by winning a PGA Tour event with full FedEx Cup points through the Valero Texas Open as well as being among the top 50 players in the Official World Golf Ranking as of April 1.
