It has been 16 years since Argentinian Angel Cabrera last won a major championship. But at age 55, he recently won two senior majors during a magical six-day stretch in May, culminating with a come-from-behind, one-stroke victory over Ireland’s Padraig Harrington and Denmark’s Thomas Bjorn in the 2025 Senior PGA Championship at Congressional Country Club in Bethesda, Maryland, on May 25.
Cabrera – who demonstrated his major mettle by winning the 2009 Masters (in a playoff over Kenny Perry) and the 2007 U.S. Open at Oakmont Country Club (a one-stroke victory over Tiger Woods and Jim Furyk) – took advantage of a minor meltdown by Harrington over the closing four holes to win his second senior major in less than a week with a final-round 69 on Congressional’s rebuilt Blue Course in a dramatic conclusion to the 85th Senior PGA Championship.
The Cabrera comeback at Congressional was a microcosm of his cathartic career comeback, which included the once-proud professional golfer serving a 30-month term in prison for domestic violence in South America following several years of physical maladies and a battle with alcoholism. Cabrera was released from prison in August 2023 and resumed his career on the PGA Tour Champions with modest success in 2024 (two Top 10s in 12 events) after securing a visa to travel to the U.S.
Then, in April, Cabrera won the James Hardie Pro Football Hall of Fame Invitational on the Champions Tour, but missed the cut (75-80) in his first Masters appearance since 2019. In May, he caught lightning in a bottle, winning the weather-delayed Regions Tradition in Birmingham, Alabama, before engraving his name on the coveted Alfred S. Bourne Trophy for his second senior major less than a week later.
“I feel very emotional,” Cabrera admitted through a translator after winning the Senior PGA Championship. “Maybe you cannot see it, but I’m very, very emotional inside. Especially after all of the things I went through, this is very special.
“After sitting without touching a club for 30 months, I thought maybe I was going to fail. Golf means everything to me and I have been working very, very hard. Now I am feeling that the hard work is paying off.”
A star-studded international leaderboard comprised of 12 players with 13 major championships were within three shots of the lead entering the final round of the Senior PGA Championship. Harrington seemed to take command with seven birdies over his first 14 holes to construct a two-shot lead and move into the driver’s seat. But when the Irishman’s tee ball on the par-4 15th found the heavy rough and a double bogey crept onto his scorecard, Cabrera birdied the same hole 20 minutes later to seize the lead at 9-under-par. Harrington then three-putted the 18th in the final round for bogey to seal his fate, and Cabrera had his second senior major on rounds of 72-69-70-69–280.
“I think I went 10 and a half years without winning, without winning anything,” said Cabrera, who earned a ticket to play in the 2026 PGA Championship next May at Aronimink Country Club outside Philadelphia with his victory in the Senior PGA Championship. “Now I have won three times (on the PGA Tour Champions) this year.
“To win one major was incredible, and to win two in six days is beyond my wildest dreams. I will sleep well tonight.”
Jason Caron, PGA, Head Professional at Mill River Club in Oyster Bay, New York, continued his impressive play at the 2025 Senior PGA Championship. Caron used his T4 finish in the Senior PGA Championship last year at Harbor Shores in Michigan to earn full playing privileges on the PGA Tour Champions and he contended for the Senior PGA Championship title again at Congressional Country Club.
He began the final round tied for the lead at 5-under with two-time U.S. Open Champion Retief Goosen, Philip Archer and Cabrera, and moved into a tie for third with a brilliant birdie at the 16th hole. Alas, a three-putt bogey on the 18th hole left Caron with a closing 71 and a share of fourth place for the second straight year with Stewart Cink and Goosen at 6-under-par.
“Looking at the big picture, it was another great week,” said Caron, who continues to play as many Champions Tour events as possible while maintaining his full-time job at Mill River Club. “I would have liked to finish a shot or two better, but it’s always fun to contend. It’s fun to feel the pressure and play against the best senior players in the world.
“I plan to continue my plan of playing events when time allows and taking care of my duties as a PGA Professional at Mill River. For me, it’s like having my cake and eating it, too.” —Roger Graves
