Masters chairman Fred Ridley is sticking to his guns over the decision to invite Angel Cabrera to this year’s tournament, despite criticism from women’s rights advocates.
The 2009 Masters winner is teeing off at Augusta for the first time since serving time for assaulting two former partners. After spending 30 months in prison, Cabrera was released in 2023 and recently celebrated a victory on the PGA Tour Champions circuit.
His participation has sparked opposition from women’s rights organizations, but Ridley insists that Cabrera deserves the chance to compete for another Green Jacket and join the Champion’s Dinner. “We certainly abhor domestic violence of any type,” he said.
“As it relates to Angel, Angel has served the sentence that was prescribed by the Argentine courts, and he is the past champion, and so he was invited.”
Cabrera himself addressed the controversy surrounding his presence at the tournament, acknowledging the stance of golf enthusiasts who feel he should not participate. “I respect their opinion and everybody has their own opinion and I respect that,” he said on Tuesday.
He added: “Life has given me another opportunity, I got to take advantage of that and I want to do the right things in this second opportunity. There was a stage in my life of five years, four, five years, that they weren’t the right things I should have done. Before that I was okay, so I just have to keep doing what I know I can do right.
(Image: Getty Images)
“Obviously I regret things that happened and you learn from them, but at the same time those are in the past and we have to look forward what’s coming.”
When questioned about whether he thinks he should be at Augusta National this week, Cabrera replied: “I won the Masters, why not?”
Despite the controversy, Cabrera has received a warm welcome from fellow golfers this week, including Adam Scott, who expressed his delight at Cabrera’s return. “I’m thrilled he’s going to be back joining us this year,” he said. “I can’t wait to see him. It’s a happy thing for me.”
However, not everyone shares this sentiment, Jamie Klingler, co-founder of the pressure group ‘Reclaim These Streets,’ strongly disagrees. “It seems as long as male athletes can excel at hitting a ball,” she said. “We excuse those same men hitting women.”
- Source: NEWHD MEDIA
