Latest news with #ReclaimTheseStreets
Daily Mirror
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Daily Mirror
PGA Tour major winner scoops £300k in first big victory since leaving prison
Former Masters and US Open champion Angel Cabrera won the Regions Tradition by one stroke to seal his first senior major on Monday. Two years ago, the two-time major champion was released from prison after serving a 30-month sentence in South America, stemming from charges of domestic violence against two former partners. Argentinian Cabrera birdied two of his remaining three holes to post the lowest final round in the field with an eight-under 64, scoring victory over Jerry Kelly at the Greystone Golf and Country Club in Birmingham, Alabama, by one shot on -20. He took home just shy of £300,000 ($390,000) in prize money. The victory marks Cabrera's second win in four starts this season on the PGA Champions Tour. '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.' The 55-year-old was released from prison on parole in August 2023 and made a return to professional competition in Argentina in December of that year, making the cut in the Abierto del Litoral. After obtaining a visa for travel to the United States, Cabrera resumed his career on the PGA Tour Champions in 2024, playing in 12 events and posting two top-10 finishes. Eighteen months since his competitive return to the sport, the veteran has now notched two wins on the Champions Tour. He was also victorious at the James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational in Florida last month. He then returned to the Masters for the first time since 2019, but missed the cut with rounds of 75 and 80. Months after returning to the PGA Tour Champions, the Argentine opened up to Golf Digest about his convictions. "I am repentant and embarrassed," he said. "I made serious mistakes. I refused to listen to anyone and did what I wanted, how I wanted and when I wanted. That was wrong." His return to golf was marred with controversy. Co-founder of social justice organisation Reclaim These Streets, Jamie Klinger, said: 'It seems as long as male athletes can excel at hitting a ball, we excuse those same men hitting women". Yet chairman of Augusta National Golf Club, Fred Ridley, claimed that that despite Cabrera's time served, his lifetime status as a former champion remained, and thus he was invited to compete. 'We certainly abhor domestic violence of any type,' Ridley said on the eve of this year's Masters. 'As it relates to Angel, Angel has served the sentence that was prescribed by the Argentine courts and he was a past champion, so he was invited.' The PGA Tour Champions season continues next week with the Senior PGA Championship at the Congressional Country Club.
The Independent
11-04-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Angel Cabrera's past crimes against women have been forgotten on Masters return
It is one of the great traditions of the Masters and will bring emotional scenes at August National this week. Former champions and winners of the green jacket receive a lifetime exemption for future tournaments, free to turn up year after year and walk the iconic course until they call it quits. Bernhard Langer, now 67, will be playing the Masters for the 41st and final time this week. With no expectations of contending, it is the feeling of stepping inside the ropes along the immaculate fairways that he will miss the most. 'I'm expecting it to be very difficult emotionally,' he said. It is the return of another former champion, though, that has asked more difficult questions of the lifetime exemption rule ahead of this year's Masters, as Angel Cabrera, winner of the green jacket in 2009, makes his first appearance at Augusta National in six years and since his release from prison. Cabrera spent a total of 30 months behind bars in Brazil and Argentina after he was convicted of domestic abuse charges. He was sentenced to two years in prison in July 2021 for assaulting, threatening and harassing a former partner, before he was convicted of a second assault against another ex-girlfriend. He was released on parole in August 2023. Now Cabrera, 55, is back at the Masters. The Argentinian has acknowledged he made 'serious mistakes' and said he is embarrassed by his past behaviour. He has been remorseful on his return to Augusta but his appearance at the Masters has been criticised by women's rights groups and there are some who say his lifetime exemption to play at the Masters should have been revoked. The group Reclaim These Streets were one of those to condemn Cabrera's return. 'It seems as long as male athletes can excel at hitting a ball, we excuse those same men hitting women, because the trophies they win are valued more than his victim's life,' said its co-founder Jamie Klingler. Speaking at this pre-tournament press conference on Wednesday, Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley defended Cabrera's place at the Masters as a former champion. '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 a past champion, and so he was invited.' Ridley had previously said Cabrera would be 'welcomed back' as one of the tournament's 'great champions' after his release from prison and it was only issues relating to acquiring a US visa that stopped the former US Open winner from appearing last year. He had already been cleared to return to the PGA champions tour, and even won his first event since his release at the Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational in Florida on Sunday. Cabrera took his seat at the traditional Masters Champions Dinner on Tuesday evening after spending 15 minutes with reporters in Augusta, where he was challenged on whether he should be playing this week. 'I won the Masters, why not?' Cabrera said. 'I respect their opinion and everybody has their own opinion and I respect that. Life has given me another opportunity, I've got to take advantage of that and I want to do the right things in this second opportunity.' Fellow players are pleased to see Cabrera back at Augusta after six years. Adam Scott, who defeated Cabrera in a play-off to win the Masters in 2013, said he would be 'thrilled' to see Cabrera at the Champions Dinner. "I can't wait,' the Australian said. 'It's a happy thing for me. We've got a fairly long history.' Ben Cranshaw, a two-time Masters champion who now hosts the annual meal and meeting of former winners said: 'I'm excited to see Angel'. Cabrera did not touch a set of golf clubs in three years while he was in prison. He admitted he was worried that he would never be able to get back into his old swing but was surprised with how the rhythm returned on the range. He has also undergone treatment for alcohol addiction and told Golf Digest that he took part in therapy while in prison. 'I refused to listen to anyone and did what I wanted, how I wanted and when I wanted,' he said in an interview after his release. Cabrera also asked his former partners for forgiveness. 'They had the bad luck of crossing paths with me when I was at my worst. I wasn't the devil, but I did bad things.'
The Independent
10-04-2025
- Sport
- The Independent
Angel Cabrera's past crimes against women forgotten on Masters return
It is one of the great traditions of the Masters and will bring emotional scenes at August National this week. Former champions and winners of the green jacket receive a lifetime exemption for future tournaments, free to turn up year after year and walk the iconic course until they call it quits. Bernhard Langer, now 67, will be playing the Masters for the 41st and final time this week. With no expectations of contending, it is the feeling of stepping inside the ropes along the immaculate fairways that he will miss the most. 'I'm expecting it to be very difficult emotionally,' he said. It is the return of another former champion, though, that has asked more difficult questions of the lifetime exemption rule ahead of this year's Masters, as Angel Cabrera, winner of the green jacket in 2009, makes his first appearance at Augusta National in six years and since his release from prison. Cabrera spent a total of 30 months behind bars in Brazil and Argentina after he was convicted of domestic abuse charges. He was sentenced to two years in prison in July 2021 for assaulting, threatening and harassing a former partner, before he was convicted of a second assault against another ex-girlfriend. He was released on parole in August 2023. Now Cabrera, 55, is back at the Masters. The Argentinian has acknowledged he made 'serious mistakes' and said he is embarrassed by his past behaviour. He has been remorseful on his return to Augusta but his appearance at the Masters has been criticised by women's rights groups and there are some who say his lifetime exemption to play at the Masters should have been revoked. The group Reclaim These Streets were one of those to condemn Cabrera's return. 'It seems as long as male athletes can excel at hitting a ball, we excuse those same men hitting women, because the trophies they win are valued more than his victim's life,' said its co-founder Jamie Klingler. Speaking at this pre-tournament press conference on Wednesday, Augusta National chairman Fred Ridley defended Cabrera's place at the Masters as a former champion. '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 a past champion, and so he was invited.' Ridley had previously said Cabrera would be 'welcomed back' as one of the tournament's 'great champions' after his release from prison and it was only issues relating to acquiring a US visa that stopped the former US Open winner from appearing last year. He had already been cleared to return to the PGA champions tour, and even won his first event since his release at the Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational in Florida on Sunday. Cabrera took his seat at the traditional Masters Champions Dinner on Tuesday evening after spending 15 minutes with reporters in Augusta, where he was challenged on whether he should be playing this week. 'I won the Masters, why not?' Cabrera said. 'I respect their opinion and everybody has their own opinion and I respect that. Life has given me another opportunity, I've got to take advantage of that and I want to do the right things in this second opportunity.' Fellow players are pleased to see Cabrera back at Augusta after six years. Adam Scott, who defeated Cabrera in a play-off to win the Masters in 2013, said he would be 'thrilled' to see Cabrera at the Champions Dinner. "I can't wait,' the Australian said. 'It's a happy thing for me. We've got a fairly long history.' Ben Cranshaw, a two-time Masters champion who now hosts the annual meal and meeting of former winners said: 'I'm excited to see Angel'. Cabrera did not touch a set of golf clubs in three years while he was in prison. He admitted he was worried that he would never be able to get back into his old swing but was surprised with how the rhythm returned on the range. He has also undergone treatment for alcohol addiction and told Golf Digest that he took part in therapy while in prison. 'I refused to listen to anyone and did what I wanted, how I wanted and when I wanted,' he said in an interview after his release. Cabrera also asked his former partners for forgiveness. 'They had the bad luck of crossing paths with me when I was at my worst. I wasn't the devil, but I did bad things.'
The Guardian
09-04-2025
- Sport
- The Guardian
Augusta National chair defends allowing Cabrera to return to Masters
Fred Ridley, the chair of Augusta National, has defended the decision to allow Ángel Cabrera to return to the Masters despite the 2009 champion serving a prison sentence for crimes against women. Cabrera's reappearance at Augusta has drawn criticism from women's rights campaigners. Cabrera is technically entitled to play in the Masters for as long as he wants as a past winner. Whether Augusta should have honoured that entry condition has been widely questioned after the Argentinian spent 30 months in jail. Cabrera was found guilty of assault, theft and intimidation against former girlfriends in 2021 and 2022. 'It seems as long as male athletes can excel at hitting a ball, we excuse those same men hitting women,' said Jamie Klingler, co-founder of the Reclaim These Streets campaign group. Ridley was asked for a response during his traditional pre-tournament press conference, at Augusta National on Wednesday. 'We certainly abhor domestic violence of any type,' Ridley said. 'As it relates to Ángel, Ángel has served the sentence that was prescribed by the Argentine courts, he is the past champion and so he was invited.' Ridley had no apparent desire to expand on the situation. A year ago, he labelled Cabrera 'one of our great champions' while expressing hope the golfer could return to this major. Cabrera, who was in attendance for the Masters champions dinner on Tuesday evening, has been remorseful in public about his past behaviour. The 55-year-old won on the PGA Champions Tour on Sunday. 'I'm very grateful and obviously the people of the golf world are very great with me and I just appreciated the way they treated me,' said Cabrera of his reception back at Augusta. 'Everybody has their own opinion and I respect that. 'Life has given me another opportunity. I have got to take advantage of that and I want to do the right things in this second opportunity. There was a stage in my life of four, five years, that I wasn't doing the right things I should have done. Before that I was OK, so I just have to keep doing what I know I can do right.'
Yahoo
09-04-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
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. Advertisement 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. Advertisement "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. Advertisement 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?" js/bb/rcw
