Masters chief defends Cabrera invite after domestic violence convictions
Argentina's Angel Cabrera, left, and Venezuela's Jhonattan Vegas talk during a practice round for the 89th Masters, which past champion Cabrera was invited to play despite serving a 30-month prison sentence for domestic violence (Harry How)
Augusta National chairman Fred Riley defended on Wednesday the club's decision to invite 2009 Masters champion Angel Cabrera to this year's tournament after he served 30 months in prison for domestic violence.
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On the eve of the 89th Masters, Ridley addressed complaints from women's groups about the 55-year-old Argentine being welcomed back to the famed course, where he ws part of Tuesday's Masters Champions Dinner.
"Well, we certainly abhor domestic violence of any type," Ridley said. "As it relates to Angel, Angel has served the sentence that was prescribed by the Argentine courts, and he is the past champion, and so he was invited."
All past winners typically are invited to each edition of the Masters. Ridley noted last year that Cabrera did not have a visa and was unable to enter the United States for the 2024 Masters.
Jamie Klingler, a co-founder of Reclaim These Streets, a British women's rights group and social justice organization, was among those unhappy at Cabrera's return.
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"It seems as long as male athletes can excel at hitting a ball, we excuse those same men hitting women," she told the BBC.
Cabrera was arrested in January 2021 in Brazil after failing to appear at a prosector's office in Argentina the prior August on domestic violence accusations that included inflicting injuries and intimidation.
Cabrera was extradited to Argentina in June 2021 and later convicted, sentenced to two years in prison. In November 2022, he was convicted of another assault and sentenced to an additional two years and four months in prison. He was released from prison in August 2023.
One victim later said Cabrera struck her and locked her in a closet. Cabrera, who underwent mandated therapy while incarcerated, admitted to Golf Digest he threw a cellphone at his partner's head.
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While saying he respected the opinions of critics who complained he didn't belong at the Masters, Cabrera replied Tuesday when asked his own opinion: "I won the Masters. Why not?"
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