Imagine being in jail and then going on to win a major.
That was the clever tweet from Golf.com’s Claire Rogers on X, who on the back end clarified, “This tweet is actually about Angel Cabrera not Scottie (Scheffler).”
While Scheffler spent a few uncomfortable hours in a Louisville jail before his second-round tee time at the 2024 PGA Championship, Cabrera was sentenced to 30 months in prison and only swung a broom for two years, losing what typically are the best years of his PGA Tour Champions career. The two-time major winner was released from jail in August 2023, after he completed more than two years in custody over gender violence cases against two of his ex-girlfriends. What Cabrera was found guilty of is despicable, but he served his time, and as his longtime coach Charlie Epps put it, “Everybody deserves a second chance.”
While serving time, Cabrera dreamed of winning again.
“I thought about making a comeback the entire time I was in prison,” he said in an interview with Golf Digest after his release. “Golf is everything to me. It’s my life. I have to continue.”
Angel Cabrera was story of the week
While Scheffler’s victory at the PGA Championship on Sunday at Quail Hollow Club in Charlotte, N.C., was impressive for multiple reasons, he’s the No. 1 player in the world and seemingly just hitting his stride with his third major. For Cabrera to return and win at age 55 at the Regions Tradition in Birmingham, Alabama, one of five majors on PGA Tour Champions, arguably was the story of the week and has floated under the radar.
“To win a major is incredible, so I’m very proud,” Cabrera said. “It brings a lot of thoughts into my mind. It was very hard, the stuff I went through, so there’s a lot going on in my mind right now. It’s hard to process.”
Epps brought a set of new Ping clubs to his pupil in Argentina after he was released from jail. “Do you know what he shot the first time we played? 64!” Epps said.
It was his way of saying that he ever doubted that the 2007 U.S. Open and 2009 Masters champion would find his game again.
Second win in four starts for Cabrera
Cabrera earned his second victory in his last four starts on the senior circuit.
“I always thought I would [win], but didn’t think it would be so fast,” Cabrera said.
Tied for the lead when play was suspended on Sunday, Cabrera returned to finish the final round on Monday and birdied two of his final three holes to post 8-under 64 for a one-shot victory over Jerry Kelly at Greystone Golf and Country Club.
“I always wanted to see how he would play sober and we’re finding out now,” Epps said. “There’s no telling what he would’ve done if he had this discipline on the regular tour. And he did at certain times but he’s got the bit in his mouth and he’s showing that he can still play golf.”
And this week, the Argentine has another major to chase at the Senior PGA Championship at Congressional Golf Club.
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