Angel Cabrera of Argentina achieved the rare feat of winning two major titles within six days when he captured the Senior PGA Championship on Sunday in Bethesda, Md.
Last Monday morning, Cabrera won the Regions Tradition, the final round of which was delayed by inclement weather Sunday. The PGA Tour Champions then headed to Congressional Country Club, where Cabrera’s final round of 3-under 69 pushed him to 8-under 280 and earned him a one-shot victory over Irishman Padraig Harrington and Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn.
Cabrera resumed his career this year after spending time in prison between 2021 and 2023 on assault charges, including threatening two of his former girlfriends.
The 55-year-old won the James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational in April before these back-to-back majors.
“I’m extremely happy after winning two tournaments in a row, and also three tournaments within a year,” Cabrera told NBC through a translator. “I’m extremely happy, especially after everything that happened.”
Cabrera shared the 54-hole lead with South Africa’s Retief Goosen, England’s Phillip Archer and Jason Caron.
Cabrera was 1 over through five holes on Sunday, but the turning point came on an eagle at the par-5 sixth. Adding birdies at Nos. 8, 11 and 15 gradually pushed him ahead.
His main competition Sunday was not any of his third-round co-leaders, but rather Harrington, who got off to a blazing start with seven birdies through 14 holes to reach 10 under for the championship. But a double bogey at the par-4 15th knocked him off that perch and opened the door for Cabrera.
Harrington and Bjorn both shot 68, and their 7-under 281 were the clubhouse lead when Cabrera came down No. 18. A closing bogey did not keep Cabrera from victory.
“I didn’t know that it was going to happen this quickly, winning two tournaments in a row, especially with all these great players around this tour,” Cabrera said. “I feel very emotional and proud.”
Caron and Goosen both shot a final-round 71 and tied Stewart Cink (70) for fourth at 6 under. Archer dropped to even par after shooting a 5-over 77.
–Field Level Media
