Ángel Cabrera facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Ángel Cabrera
Cabrera in 2007
Personal information
Full name	Ángel Leopoldo Cabrera
Nickname	El Pato (The Duck)
Born	(1969-09-12) 12 September 1969 (age 55) Córdoba, Argentina
Height	6 ft 0 in (1.83 m)
Weight	210 lb (95 kg; 15 st)
Nationality	Argentina
Residence	Córdoba, Argentina
Children	2
Career
Turned professional	1989
Current tour(s)	European Senior Tour
Former tour(s)	PGA Tour European Tour Tour de las Américas TPG Tour
Professional wins	57
Number of wins by tour
PGA Tour	3
European Tour	5
Asian Tour	1
Champions Tour	3
European Seniors Tour	2
Other	47
Best results in Major Championships (Wins: 2)
The Masters Tournament	Won: 2009
U.S. Open	Won: 2007
The Open Championship	T4: 1999
PGA Championship	T19: 2000

Ángel Leopoldo Cabrera (born September 12, 1969) is a professional golfer from Argentina. He played on both the European Tour and PGA Tour. People often call him "El Pato" in Spanish, which means "The Duck". This nickname comes from the way he walks. Ángel Cabrera is famous for winning two of golf's biggest tournaments, called major championships. He won the U.S. Open in 2007 and the Masters in 2009. He was the first golfer from Argentina and South America to win either of these important events. He also almost won the Masters again in 2013, losing in a sudden-death playoff.

Early Life and Golf Journey

Ángel Cabrera grew up in Córdoba, Argentina. When he was 10 years old, he started working as a caddy at the Córdoba Country Club. A caddy is someone who carries a golfer's clubs and helps them on the course. He learned to play golf by competing against other caddies.

Ángel was very determined and had a powerful swing. A club member named Juan Cruz Molina noticed his talent. When Ángel was 16, Molina bought him his first set of golf clubs. Ángel became known for his strong build and big golf swing.

Ángel's sons also became professional golfers. His son Federico turned pro in 2008, and his son Ángel Jr. became a professional in 2012. They have also played on the PGA Tour Latinoamérica.

Professional Golf Career

Ángel Cabrera became a professional golfer when he was 20. He worked hard to join the European Tour, which is a major golf tour.

Playing on the European Tour

After trying four times, Cabrera finally qualified for the European Tour in 1996. He quickly became a strong player. In 1999, he finished tenth on the Order of Merit, which ranks players based on their earnings. He often finished in the top 15 over many years.

His first win on the European Tour was the 2001 Argentine Open. In 2005, he won the BMW Championship. This was a very important event on the European Tour, second only to the major championships. By October 2005, he was ranked 9th in the world!

Playing on the PGA Tour

In 2006, Cabrera earned enough money playing in the PGA Tour to become a full-time member. He played on the PGA Tour for several years.

In 2009, he also started a golf course design business with famous golfer Gary Player. They focused on designing courses in Latin America.

Winning Major Championships

Ángel Cabrera won his first major championship at the 2007 U.S. Open. This tournament was held at Oakmont Country Club in Pennsylvania. He finished the tournament with a score of 5-over par, beating golf legends Tiger Woods and Jim Furyk by just one shot. He was the first Argentine player to win the U.S. Open.

Cabrera then won the Masters Tournament in 2009. The Masters is one of the most famous golf tournaments in the world, and winners receive a special Green Jacket. He won in a sudden-death playoff against Chad Campbell and Kenny Perry. He was the first Argentine to win the Masters. He was also one of the lowest-ranked golfers to ever win the Masters at that time.

In 2013, Cabrera almost won the Masters again. He was in the final group on Sunday and played very well. He made a fantastic putt on the 18th hole to force a playoff with Adam Scott. They played two extra holes, but Scott won with a birdie on the second playoff hole. It was a very exciting finish!

Cabrera also won the Greenbrier Classic in West Virginia in 2014. This was his first PGA Tour win that wasn't a major championship.

Team Golf Appearances

Ángel Cabrera has represented Argentina and the International team in several team golf events:

• Alfred Dunhill Cup (representing Argentina): 1997, 1998, 2000
• World Cup (representing Argentina): 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006
• Presidents Cup (representing the International team): 2005, 2007, 2009, 2013

Major Championship Highlights

Ángel Cabrera has won two major championships in his career. These are the most important tournaments in golf.

Major Wins (2)

Year	Championship	54 holes	Winning score	Margin	Runners-up
2007	U.S. Open	4 shot deficit	+5 (69-71-76-69=285)	1 stroke	Jim Furyk, Tiger Woods
2009	Masters Tournament	Tied for lead	−12 (68-68-69-71=276)	Playoff1	Chad Campbell, Kenny Perry

¹Defeated Kenny Perry and Chad Campbell in a sudden-death playoff: Cabrera (4-4), Perry (4-5) and Campbell (5).

Major Championship Results Timeline

This table shows how Ángel Cabrera performed in the major championships over the years.

     Win      Top 10      Did not play WD = withdrew
CUT = missed the half way cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place.

Summary of Major Championship Performance

• Most consecutive cuts made – 7 (2008 PGA – 2010 U.S. Open)
• Longest streak of top-10s – 2 (2001 Masters – 2001 U.S. Open)

Senior Major Championships

Ángel Cabrera has also had success in senior major championships, which are for golfers aged 50 and over.

Senior Major Wins (2)

Year	Championship	54 holes	Winning score	Margin	Runner(s)-up
2025	Regions Tradition	3 shot deficit	−20 (70-67-67-64=268)	1 stroke	Jerry Kelly
2025	Senior PGA Championship	Tied for lead	−8 (72-69-70-69=280)	1 stroke	Thomas Bjørn, Pádraig Harrington

Senior Major Results Timeline

This table shows Ángel Cabrera's performance in senior major championships.

     Win      Top 10      Did not play CUT = missed the halfway cut
"T" indicates a tie for a place
NT = no tournament due to COVID-19 pandemic

See also

In Spanish: Ángel Cabrera (golfista) para niños