Angel Cabrera in Winners Circle on Eve of Masters

“It's very emotional after everything that I've gone through the last couple years, so being here to have these chances again and win again for me is very much,” Cabrera said after a two-shot victory over K.J. Choi at the James Hardie. “And obviously, it was a hard battle out there.

Cabrera’s last appearance in the Masters came when he missed the cut in 2019, and since then, he has been on a bumpy ride that included spending 30 months in prison in Argentina after an arrest for threatening and harassing an ex-girlfriend in 2021.

When he finally got out of prison, Cabrera had an issue with his visa and couldn’t make a return to the Masters in 2024.

“I’m very happy to be in contention,” Cabrera said on Saturday after his second-round 66. “I’m working really, really hard to be back in the winner’s circle. I’m going to try really hard to do it tomorrow.”

In 2009, a portly Angel Cabrera made pars on the first two playoff holes to capture his first Masters title over Kenny Perry and Chad Campbell.

In many ways, the Argentinian was settling an old score with the Masters for taking away the title from fellow countryman Roberto De Vicenzo for signing an incorrect scorecard.

DiVincenzo signed for a par four when he made a birdie three on the 17^th hole that would have forced a playoff, but instead, it gave the title to Bob Goalby.

“DiVincenzo had bad luck,” Cabrera said in his champion's interview after his playoff win in 2009. “He had a bad moment. It's not going to change what happened to him. This win, to take back to Argentina, it's going to help a lot with our game.”