Angel Cabrera eyes PGA Tour return after prison release

The two-time major winner Angel Cabrera is said to be plotting a return to professional golf, three months after being released from prison.

Cabrera, 54, has spent two-and-a-half-years in custody in Brazil and Argentina after being convicted of domestic violence charges.

The Argentine was sentenced in July 2021 being found guilty of assaulting, threatening and harassing his ex-partner Cecilia Torres Mana.

Charges were also brought against Cabrera in November 2022, where he pleaded guilty to threats and harassment against another former girlfriend Micaela Escudero, extending his sentence to three years and 10 months.

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Now, after being released on parole on August 4, Cabrera’s longtime coach Charlie Epps has revealed he is playing regularly again at his home course in Cordoba and is targeting his comeback to the pro circuit.

“He wants to play, he’s learned his lesson, he wants to get on with his life,” Epps told Golfweek.

“I think he’s in a great frame of mind for what he’s been through. He’s got to go through the mechanics of getting his Visa back and then approach the PGA Tour and I think it’s going to end up being good.”

Epps added: “He demonstrated his talent and drive is still there. We played five rounds of golf at Cordoba Golf Club, where we both grew up playing, and he was always under par. Right now, he’s just trying to get his life in shape and practice and stuff like that and get here to the United States.

“He’s been humbled. He knows what he needs to do and he said he’s ready for a second chance. He prays to God he doesn’t take another drink. And he’s so headstrong. When he puts his mind to doing something, he’ll do it just like that.

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“The way Angel plays on hard courses, I think he can still win the US Senior Open. I want him to be the comeback player of the year.”

Cabrera last competed on the Champions Tour back in September 2020 and it is unclear how he would reintroduce himself to the professional game.

A PGA Tour statement issued to Golfweek noted: “The Tour is aware that Angel Cabrera has been released on parole. While we do not have any update on his status as a PGA Tour member at this time, the Tour may consider new and relevant information to determine if any change to his status is appropriate in the future.”

As a past Masters champion in 2009, Cabrera earned a lifetime invitation to the first major of the year. Augusta National is yet to respond and it is unknown whether that invite will be honoured in April.

Ben Parsons joined bunkered as a Content Producer in 2023 and is the man to come to for all of the latest news, across both the professional and amateur games. Formerly of The Mirror and Press Association, he is a member at Halifax Golf Club and is a long-suffering fan of both Manchester United and the Wales rugby team.