Masters patrons know golf. At almost any other tournament, maybe only half as many people would be aware of Angel Cabrera’s recent history. That the Argentine was incarcerated for 30 months for domestic violence and just last year got his visa to re-enter the United States. That whether his past champion’s invitation ought to be rescinded was a question strongly raised throughout the week at Augusta National. On Thursday, “El Pato’s” signature, slinking walk from the clubhouse to the first tee drew awkward silence.
“How weird” and other hushed variations. “Imagine being paired with him. What would you talk about?”
If there’s a line where a golfer’s off-course actions would ever block his playing, Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley was unequivocal that Cabrera was not across it. “We certainly abhor domestic violence of any type. As it relates to Angel, Angel has served the sentence that was prescribed by the Argentine courts, and he is a past champion, so he was invited,” Ridley said when asked on Wednesday about Cabrera’s return to the tournament for the first time since 2019. The most comparable situation might be from 2022, when R&A chief Martin Slumbers asked Greg Norman not to attend The Open at St. Andrews when the controversy with LIV burned hottest. The two-time claret jug winner Norman’s participation likely would’ve been merely ceremonial, but the concern was his presence would overshadow the championship.
The 2025 Masters was never in danger of being overshadowed by a 55-year-old who would shoot 75-80 to miss the cut. Beefy shoulders, head hung low, furtive eyes—one could squint and imagine how he looked going from a cell to the yard to avoid trouble.
But as much as patrons might think they know, there’s so much they don’t.
In short time, Cabrera went from restless nights on a concrete bed to being served at one of the world’s most exclusive tables—the Champions Dinner at Augusta National. It’s difficult to think of another human whose circumstances have swung from so low to so high so quickly; interior life notwithstanding. Mike Tyson comes to mind, a more famous sporting figure convicted of a more heinous crime, who served three years for rape and then returned to boxing and became the WBA titleholder. “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,” Cabrera said after a practice round through an interpreter.
The old refrain on Cabrera is he pretends not to be able to speak much English. The small passel of family and friends who followed his first- and second-round pairing with Adam Schenk and Laurie Canter cheered in Spanish. English speakers who want to know what’s going on with Cabrera should find Manuel Tagle. Technically, Tagle is Cabrera’s manager, though he hasn’t taken a cent of the $400,000 Cabrera has earned on the PGA Tour Champions since being released nor anything the past five years as he’s tried to help the golfer get his life back in order. The two met when they were children, when Cabrera was a gardener for Tagle’s family. Cabrera caddied often for Manuel’s brother, German, who competed in prestigious South American amateur events.
“I have three other successful businesses,” says Tagle, who doesn’t anticipate accompanying Cabrera to many other tournaments this year. “I only go to the places that I want to go and might be fun.” His goal is that Cabrera’s life will finish peacefully. The track record for which, among celebrities who come from poverty and little education in Argentina, is not great. Soccer legend Diego Maradona died at 60 following disgraces with cocaine use, tax issues and alleged ties to crime syndicates. Their greatest golfer, Roberto Di Vincenzo, died destitute at 94.
Tagle was one of few people who visited Cabrera in prison. He says Cabrera was deeply ashamed and felt pain at the realization of how few friends he had. He also says the prospect of playing golf again was far from Cabrera’s mind. Even beyond the lack of psychological will, there was uncertainty how a wrist surgery performed shortly before his arrest had healed. After Cabrera was released, it was a month before he touched a golf club and played games with German within the privacy of Terron Golf Club, which the Tagles own. Cabrera struggled to be in public, hiding his face going to the grocery store.
Which is understandable. Though maybe it’s harder to understand how that same person can go from there to inside the ropes at the Masters with the eyes of the world upon him. Tagle says it was a blessing that complications with his visa rendered moot the prospect of Cabrera playing in the 2024 Masters. “It would’ve been too soon for him, to be here amid everything.”
If Cabrera gets into any trouble of any sort going forward, it is almost certain his visa will be revoked. Tagle believes he must protect Cabrera from his family. Two step-sons from his first marriage are in prison and neither of his grown sons are educated or have really worked. Angel Jr. did caddie for his father this week.
By Tagle’s count, before winning the James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational on the PGA Tour Champions the week before the 2025 Masters, Cabrera had entry into just 11 tournaments on the horizon. The win gives him full status and a guaranteed job for two years. “That is the most significant development in his life by far,” Tagle says. “To be here this week in Augusta is just the cherry.”
Cabrera told Tagle’s two young sons, who were also following: “If you see me make a bogey, don’t be upset, because I’m not.”
The patrons who’d watched his six bogeys and two doubles to go with a single birdie didn’t seem so upset either. If not unfeeling, certainly unknowing. As Cabrera walked the final hill on No. 18 Friday, his distinctive gait was recognizable from far away. Getting closer, he looked less and less like he did getting out of jail just 20 months ago. While not a triumphant return, incredible nonetheless.
May it be long time or never until the game must again reckon whether a golfer should be allowed to play in a tournament.
Article originally appeared on: GolfDigest.com