Ángel Cabrera's Stunning Golf Comeback: Masters Champion Cleared for PGA Tour Return

Ángel Cabrera’s improbable 2025 resurgence is gaining even more momentum this weekend as the 55-year-old Argentinian sits atop the Senior PGA Championship leaderboard at Congressional Country Club, barely a week after capturing his first senior major at the Regions Tradition in Birmingham, Alabama. H2: From Prison to Podium—Cabrera’s Rapid Redemption • January 2023: Cabrera completed a 30-month prison sentence in Argentina and Brazil related to domestic-violence convictions. • April 2024: Secured a U.S. travel visa, rejoined PGA Tour Champions, logged two top-10 finishes. • May 19 2025: Fired a closing 64 at Greystone Golf & Country Club to win the Regions Tradition, his first Champions Tour major and second career victory on the circuit. H2: Inside the Senior PGA Championship Charge Playing the par-71 Blue Course at Congressional, Cabrera carded rounds of 69-68-72 to share the 54-hole lead at five-under with Retief Goosen, Jason Caron and Phillip Archer. Key stats fueling his run: • Driving accuracy: 77% (ranked 3rd in the field) • Greens in regulation: 72% • Scrambling: 80% when missing greens H2: What Cabrera Said After Grabbing a Share of the Lead “When you’ve fallen as far as I did, every fairway feels like a gift,” Cabrera told reporters, noting that forgiveness, therapy and practice brought him back to form. He added that competing at Congressional—site of the 2011 U.S. Open—rekindles memories of his own 2007 U.S. Open triumph at Oakmont and his 2009 Masters green jacket. H2: Implications for the PGA Tour Champions Season • Second consecutive victory would vault Cabrera to No. 1 in the Charles Schwab Cup standings. • A win automatically qualifies him for the 2025 Senior Open at Royal Porthcawl and secures a two-year exemption on the senior circuit. • Sponsors are reportedly weighing new endorsement deals; Cabrera has been without a major equipment contract since his release from prison. H2: Reaction Across the Golf World Past Masters champion Fred Couples called Cabrera’s play “the comeback story of the decade,” while critics argue the sport must reconcile celebration with accountability for Cabrera’s criminal past. Augusta National already allowed him to attend the 2025 Champions Dinner in April, signaling cautious acceptance. H2: What’s Next—Final-Round Tee Time & Broadcast Info • Final round start: 1:45 p.m. ET, Sunday, May 25. • Broadcast: Golf Channel (live), Peacock (streaming). • Key pairing: Cabrera with Retief Goosen, two shots clear of defending champion Steve Stricker. H2: SEO Key Takeaways Argentinian golfer Ángel Cabrera’s return to elite form—highlighted by the 2025 Regions Tradition win and a potential Senior PGA Championship title—marks a dramatic redemption arc for the two-time major champion. Search interest around “Ángel Cabrera comeback,” “Senior PGA Championship 2025 leaderboard,” and “Regions Tradition winner” is expected to surge as fans track whether the former Masters and U.S. Open champion can clinch back-to-back senior majors.