Augusta, Ga. – The shortest response of Fred Ridley at a press conference on an hour on Wednesday registered at 37 words. The National President of Augusta was asked about the club’s decision to allow the 2009 winner, ángel Cabrera, to compete as previous champion.
Ridley knew that the question was going to arrive and knew his answer before saying.
“Well, we certainly disturb domestic violence of any type,” he replied. “Regarding ángel, Ángel has served the sentence prescribed by the Argentinian courts, and he is the last champion, and he was therefore invited.”
Without hindrance by clumsy or external air reviews, Augusta National welcomes Cabrera for the Masters 2025. He attended the dinner of the Tuesday evening champion on the second floor of the National Club-Augusta, wearing a yellow tie with his green jacket and standing between Mike Weir and Hideki Matsuyama for a group portrait. He participated in the PAR-3 competition focused on Wednesday’s family, pulling a 4 against 31 out of nine holes. He went to the first round of Thursday at 10:59 am with Adam Schenk and Laurie Canter.
The return is long to come for Cabrera. It is also open to interpretation and attack.
Sixteen years ago, Cabrera was the Argentinian platform parste around Augusta, smiling, throwing carefree pumps into the air, erasing a two -stroke deficit with four holes to travel. In a playoff series with Kenny Perry and Chad Campbell, the 39 -year -old Cabrera looked apart like a punch of the woods found a ricochet by the sky of a tree and in the fairway. He won the playoffs and slipped a regular green jacket 46.
Today, Cabrera is 55 years and 20 months withdrawn from a 30 -month stay. The double major champion has spent time in three different prisons for domestic violence.
Among the original accusations, his ex-wife detailed physical assault and verbal threats occurring between 2016 and 2018. During subsequent accusations, two ex-girlfriends made similar claims, one saying that Cabrera locked him in a closet and hit her with a mobile phone. At the trial in 2021, Cabrera categorically denied allegations against him.
Cabrera’s messaging changed after being released from an Argentine prison in August 2023. In a long and revealing questions / answers with golf digest, Cabrera detailed life problems with alcoholism, admitted to having abused former partners and apologized.
“I am repentant and embarrassed,” Cabrera told Golf Digest. “I made serious mistakes. I refused to listen to someone and I did what I wanted, how I wanted and when I wanted. It was bad. I ask for forgiveness from Micaela. I ask forgiveness from Celia. They were unlucky to meet with me when I was at worst.
Angel Cabrera spent 30 months in prison for domestic violence. (Harry How / Getty Images)
Cabrera was authorized to play in events punishable by the PGA in December 2023. Since then, he has continued his professional career of game in highlight on senior tours in the United States and Europe, winning nearly $ 400,000 on the PGA Tour champions. Last week, three events in its 2025 season, Cabrera won the James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational, ahead of KJ Choi and RetiIef Goose.
Coming to Augusta, however, is anything but discreet.
The Masters is an invitation tournament. Although all former champions are exempt from qualifications, it is always at the discretion of the national Augusta that participates. Some old champions have been slightly pushed to stop playing when they can no longer reasonably go around the course with an appropriate score. In March, Fred Couples said that he was with happiness to hear Steve Etve, the director of the masters tournament, tell him that the club wants him to continue to play.
No way, Augusta is morally or contractually forced to allow Cabrera to play. It’s a choice. In January 2024, Ridley called Cabrera “one of our great champions”. He did not play in the masters of 2024 due to visa problems.
Some will say that Cabrera served its time. Others will say that Cabrera has given up his right to be honored – which is the point of allowing past champions to play – once he has committed acts of domestic violence.
Cabrera? He half pushed.
It was after a Tuesday training session. Cabrera, wearing an graying beard, was addressed to journalists behind the Augusta clubhouse. When asked, what would you say to people who may think you shouldn’t be here? Cabrera pushed her shoulders and replied: “I respect their opinion and everyone has their own opinion and I respect this.”
Cabrera answered 16 questions in English, answering via a Spanish interpreter. Short and simple responses.
“Life gave me another opportunity,” he said. “I have to take advantage of it and I want to do the right things in this second opportunity.”
“There was a scene in my five-year life, four, five years old, that they were not the right things I should have done,” he said. “Before that, I was going well, so I have to continue doing what I know that I can do well.”
Wednesday, Athletics Questioned Augusta National if there is a behavioral policy or standard that could exclude a former competition champion. The club had no comments, referring only to the quote from Ridley earlier during the day.
Outside, criticism will persist. It remains to be seen how the distribution partners of Augusta National manage the scenario, if ESPN and CBS immerse themselves in the circumstances surrounding the return of Cabrera. The commentator of CBS Color Trevor Immelman, the 2008 masters champion, was the man who slipped the green jacket on the shoulders of Cabrera after the 2009 tournament. None of the two networks responded to requests for comments on the issue.
All that is known is that Thursday will certainly be accompanied by a pleasant series of applause when Cabrera is presented on the opening TEE. Just like the 19 former field champions.
(Top Photo: Richard Heathcote / Getty Images)
