Angel Cabrera’s dream of returning competitively to golf was given a boost by the PGA Tour on Tuesday after he served a two-year jail sentence.
Chris King, PGA Tour Champions’ spokesman, wrote an email confirming that Cabrera was eligible to compete in all Tours.
Cabrera will play his last PGA Tour Champions event at the Pure Insurance Open, in September 2020. On Aug. 4, the two-time major champion was released from prison after spending more than two full years in jail for gender violence against two of his former girlfriends.
In an exclusive interview published in the December issue, he said: “I had thought about making a return the whole time I was in jail.” “My goal is prepare for and play on Champions Tour. The only way I will know for sure if I am physically capable of competing at this level is when I compete. Mentally, I am already there. Golf is my life. Golf is my life. “I have to continue.”
Charlie Epps is Cabrera’s longtime teacher and friend. He confirmed in an earlier Golfweek article that Cabrera was suspended by the Tour. A Tour spokesperson said just last month, “The Tour knows that Angel Cabrera was released on parole.” We do not know his current status as a PGA Tour Member at this time. However, we may take into consideration new and relevant information in the future to decide if he should be changed.
The Tour didn’t respond to an inquiry asking for what new information and how it contributed to the change in status. Also, whether Miller Brady, the chief of the Champions Tour, made the decision, or if Jay Monahan, the commissioner who oversees the entire tour, had a say in the change.
Golf Digest cited a December 18, 2012 letter from Andy Levinson – a senior vice-president at the PGA Tour stating that his suspension had been lifted immediately.
In a letter received by Golf Digest, Levinson stated that if you fail to provide any additional information about your legal status in Argentina in accordance with the terms and conditions of your release as a prisoner, your suspension may be reinstated immediately.
Cabrera wants a visa to travel to the U.S., but it’s unclear if Augusta National will honor the lifetime invitation he received as a former champion to attend the Masters in April.
Cabrera, who described the place as a “second home”, said that it was his dream to go back and walk that course which gave him so much satisfaction and joy. It would be an honor to attend the Champions Dinner and meet so many of golf’s best players.
Cabrera should be able to compete in the Argentina Open, a Korn Ferry Tour tournament for the first-time in late February. Cabrera returned to competitive golf in the last week. He finished T-10 after three rounds in 60s.
