BETESDA, Maryland – Angel Cabrera felt the opportunity when Padraig Harrington was upset on the 15th hole with a double bogey while playing several groups first.
“I was like, ‘This is my turn,'” Cabrera said through an interpreter.
Harrington was unstable on the stretch, but the Cabrera was stable, shooting a 3-under 69 on Sunday, earning a one-stroke victory in the Senior PGA Championship in Congress. It was his second senior major in his week.
Cabrera, the 2007 US Open and 2009 Masters champion, acquired a rain-lagged regional tradition on Monday in Alabama, Argentina’s first senior major. Six days later, in Congress, he followed Harrington on two strokes after Harrington rolled in with a long birdie putt on the 14th.
However, Harrington double bogeyed No. 15, and Cabrera leased the same hole after a while to take the lead. After Harrington’s bogey on the par 4 18th, Cabrera needed only a bogey in the hole and got it.
“I feel very emotional,” Cabrera said. “Maybe you can’t see, but I’m very emotional inside, especially after everything I’ve experienced.”
Cabrera spent 20 months in an Argentine prison after being convicted of assaulting, threatening and harassing her former partner. He was also accused of assaulting three other partners.
Cabrera was released on parole in August 2023 and missed a cut at the Masters after winning the PGA Tour Champions event last month.
“I thought I would fail, especially after sitting without touching the club for a while,” Cabrera said. “I’ve worked very hard, but I feel that all the effort will pay off. This is what I have right now.”
Cabrera finished at 8 under 280. Harrington (68) and Thomas Bjorn (68) were tied second, with Lettyf Goosen (71), Jason Carron (71) and Stewart Sink (70) taking another strokeback.
Defending champion Richard Brand came in 14th at 2 under.
Cabrera was part of the first four-way tie at the beginning of the day, while Harrington was a two-stroke back, but in great shape after birdieing seven of his first 14 holes in the final round.
His high point came in 14th after a strange situation where it appeared that there was bird excrement in the green next to his balls.
“I didn’t know how much I could rub it on,” Harrington said. “I know you can pay it off, but I actually had to scrape it off the green.”
Harrington then made a putt from about 30 feet for birdie, moving him to 10 under, two shots before Cabrera. However, the lead is no. At 15 (424 yard par 4) the 5 timber left the tee and then disappeared shortly. Harrington needed four strokes to reach the green.
“I have lifelong issues with being confident and cocky, and I did it with a 15 teebox. It was a very simple tee shot,” Harrington said. “I didn’t get into it completely, so I panicked at the last moment and hit a big hook.”
Cabrera missed the green on the 13th of the par 3, but saved a par, and his birdie later gave him a one-stroke lead. Harrington then putts on the 18th, missing from about 3 feet, settling on a bogey that pushed Cabrera’s lead to two.
The 18 Cabrera drive missed to the right, but Harrington was watching on TV. At that point, Harrington wanted Cabrera to spare the Irish star further pain of a one-stroke loss.
“I just really want him for two putts,” Harrington said.
However, Cabrera could still win with three putts and that’s what happened.
“I just think 15 tees are too easy,” Harrington said. “I was careless. That’s all.”
The Associated Press contributed to this report.