Angel Cabrera joins celebrations as fellow Argentine wins on PGA Tour Champions
Angel Cabrera closes with two eagles on PGA Tour Champions return as compatriot Ricardo Gonzalez wins first event on senior circuit.
Disgraced former Masters champion Angel Cabrera joined in the celebrations as fellow Argentine player Ricardo Gonzalez won his first PGA Tour Champions event at the Trophy Hassan II in Morocco.
Cabrera, 54, was making his competitive return to the PGA Tour Champions following a two-year prison sentence for domestic violence charges.
The two-time major champion had spent 30 months locked up for domestic violence offences relating to two previous girlfriends.
Cabrera closed with a final-round 70 that featured two eagles on the par-5 5th and par-4 17th but he finished well off the pace on 2-over par in T27.
Returning to golf in December 2023, Cabrera played over in Argentina on the PGA Tour’s Latinoamerica Development Tour and at the South Open where he finished third.
Angel Cabrera: “I should normally play Masters”: Angel Cabrera, the Argentine champion, former winner of the 2007 US Open and the 2009 Masters, had just finished a reconnaissance round with his caddie, Javier Pintos https://t.co/cmKb385Nrv #golf #Angelcabrera #Usopen pic.twitter.com/iVvsaYSm29
— TennisWorld USA (@TennisworldUSA) February 25, 2024
While it was a steady opening week back for Cabrera on the PGA Tour Champions, it was a spectacular one for his compatriot Gonzalez, 54, who locked up his first title on the circuit.
Gonzalez also carded a final-round 70, highlighted by four birdies in a row from the 13th, to seal a narrow one-stroke victory over former European Ryder Cup captain Thomas Bjorn on 10-under par.
The four-time European Tour winner becomes the fourth player from Argentina to win on the PGA Tour Champions.
Gonzalez's victory drew emotional scenes on the 18th green, especially for his good friend and caddie Cristian Molina who revealed his brother had passed away in November 2023.
“This is a win for my brother.”
Ricardo González and Miguel’s caddie, Cristian Molina, are very close friends.
After Cristian’s brother passed away in November, this win means everything to them. pic.twitter.com/A1Kb2exO7y— PGA TOUR Champions (@ChampionsTour) February 24, 2024
According to Handicap 54, it is understood Cabrera joined in the victory celebrations.
The report reads:"Cabrera, who was returning to the tour (he finished T-27), took a backseat and joined the celebration."
Cabrera is eligible to compete in The Masters this April having slipped on the famous green jacket in 2009.
The only current issue for Cabrera is whether or not he can get a visa in time to be able to compete at Augusta National.
Cabrera admits he is "hopeful" he will be able to tee it up in the first major of the year.
The 2007 US Open champion was allowed to play in Morocco this week because he did not need a visa to be in the country.
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