The Masters are ‘open to allowing Angel Cabrera to return’ after the 2009 winner spent 30 months in prison for alleged assaults on two of his former girlfriends

The Masters tournament is open to having former winner Angel Cabrera return to Augusta National Golf Club after having legal issues cause him to miss the traditional first major of the year for the last few seasons, according to Golfweek.

Cabrera, the 2009 Masters champion, has been denied a visa after a pair of what have been referred to as ‘gender violence cases’.

The native of Argentina served 30 months in prison after alleged assaults on two of his former girlfriends.

Cabrera also faced theft and illegal intimidation charges after he was arrested in Brazil in January 2021. He was released from custody back in August.

The 54-year-old Cabrera is currently set to play in a PGA Champions event in Morocco from Feb. 22-24. He also is entered in a Korn Ferry Tour event in Argentina just a week later.

Golfweek also has reported that Cabrera has an invitation to play at the Insperity Invitational at Houston in May.

But his appearances at Houston and at Augusta still are contingent on acquiring a visa. He has not played at The Masters in the previous four years.

‘Presently we have been in constant contact with Angel’s representatives,’ Augusta National Golf Club chairman Fred Ridley said, according to Golfweek. 

‘He doesn’t have a visa, and I know that that process is being worked through. We certainly wish him the best of luck with that, and we’ll definitely welcome him back if he’s able to straighten out those legal issues.’

Cabrera has three career wins on the PGA Tour, including the 2007 U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club at Oakmont, Pa. He lost the 2013 Masters in a playoff against Adam Scott and also has two wins on the European Tour.