Angel Cabrera
Residence: Cordoba, Argentina
DOB: 09/12/1969
Angel’s recipe for success couldn’t be more different from the aspiring youngsters on tour who have the inclination to surround themselves with a team of coaches, psychologists and trainers. The 37-year old from Argentina has never been to a gym. On being questioned about this he explained: ‘Some golfers have psychologists - but I smoke." He came from a very modest background, and like many tour players, started out as a caddie at his local club - in this case the Cordoba Club in Argentina. He soon emerged as one of the promising juniors in the region.
Known on Tour as ‘El Pato’ (the duck) for his strange way of walking, Cabrera turned professional at the age of 20. His first 3 visits to the European Tour Qualifying School were unsuccessful, but on his 4th trip in 1995, made with fellow Argentinean Eduardo Romero's, who became his mentor, financial assistance, he qualified for membership of the European Tour in 1996.
The long hitting South American claimed his first European Tour victory on home soil at the 2001 Open de Argentina and went on to win the prestigious BMW Championship in 2005. His most notable success however came at the 2007 US Open where he came back from 4 strokes behind on the final day to win his only Major Crown. By beating Tiger Woods and Jim Furyk into 2nd spot at the US Open Cabrera has become only the second Argentinean to win a Major – the first was Roberto de Vicenzo, who won the Open Championship at Hoylake in 1967. He went on to receive the 2007 Olimpia de Oro ("Golden Olympia") as Argentina's sportsperson of the year.
After major success in 2007 Angel has struggled to bring this form through to the 2008 season. Still splitting his time between the European and PGA Tour his only top-10 of the year came at the WGC Accenture Match Play, where he made the quarter finals.
Angel Cabrera Club History
Below is a selection of clubs used by Angel Cabrera throughout his career
Angel Cabrera Tournament History
2008 Portugal Masters |
16-19 October - Portugal Masters - Oceânico Victoria Golf Course. Spain’s Alvaro Quiros was victorious at the Portugal Masters after holding off a determined challenge from Europe’s form player, Robert Karlsson. The 25 year old from Cadiz pocketed the €500,000 winner’s cheque - the largest of his career - after a final round 68 (a 19 under par total); he immediately dedicated his win to Seve Ballesteros, who was recovering in hospital from an operation to remove a brain tumour at the time. European Order of Merit leader Karlsson, who had begun the final round only a shot behind the Spaniard, had to settle for a share of third place after carding a 71. |
In Angel Cabrera's bag...A pair of 73’s sandwiched rounds of 69 and 66 as the big Argentinean went up and down the leader board like a yo-yo. He finally finished in a tie for 23rd place. This is the second time that we have caught up with the big man from Argentina in 2008. Nothing’s changed from the first half of the season. He still used his Ping Rapture driver and hybrid. His was still using his Ping S57 irons and Ping Tour-W wedges. He completed his bag with a Ping Redwood Anser putter.
(CLICK ON IMAGES TO SEE FULL SIZE VERSION). |
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2008 The PGA Championship |
7-10 August - PGA Championship - Oakland Hills. Padraig Harrington secured his 3rd Major Championship in 13 months at the 90th PGA Championship. With an incredible 8-under mark over the final 36 holes thanks to matching 4-under-par 66’s, Harrington posted a 3-under, 277, total for a 2 stroke victory ahead of Sergio Garcia and Ben Curtis. It was the Irishman's 2nd major win in just 3 weeks. Interestingly, it seemed as though Harrington was ready to throw in the towel after a 4-over 74 in the 2nd round put him at +5 for the tournament. |
In Angel Cabrera's bag...After being in a tie for 7th place after 54 holes and in prime position to make a charge on the final day, the big hitting Argentinean could not find the form required and eventually slipped down the leader board to finish in a tie for 20th. Angel Cabrera is one of the longest hitters on tour and has been for many years. He used a Ping Rapture (7.5˚) to launch the ball out to an average of over 300 yards for the 2008 season. Angel switched to the Ping G10 (14˚) fairway wood before switching back to the Rapture for his hybrid. Even though he carried a hybrid (supposedly a long iron replacement) Angel still carried a full set of Ping S57 irons (3-P). As a result he only had room for 2 wedges and chooses the Ping Tour-W in 54˚ and 60˚. He completed his set with a Ping Redwood Anser putter.
(CLICK ON IMAGES TO SEE FULL SIZE VERSION). |
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2007 HSBC World Matchplay Championship |
11-14 October - HSBC World Matchplay - The Wentworth Club - West Course. Won by Ernie Els who beat Angel Cabrera of Argentina 6 and 4, capturing the title for a record seventh time. |
In Angel Cabrera's bag...Although only the 9th seed, Angle had a relatively easy passage through to the final. He destroyed Retief Goosen in the first round, beating him 6&5. In the second round he met the reigning champion Paul Casey who he beat 4&3. His biggest challenge came in the semi final where he only just slipped past American Hunter Mahan 2&1. In the 36-hole final however, HSBC World Matchplay hero Ernie Els beast him 6&4 and lead from the 1st hole onwards. Angle is known for using Ping equipment. This week we can see that he was using a Ping G10 driver. This was complimented by a Ping Rapture fairway wood and a Ping TiSI fairway that he has used for years. His irons were Ping S58 and complimented by a Ping Tour-W wedge. His putter is a Ping Redwood Anser.
(CLICK ON IMAGES TO SEE FULL SIZE VERSION). |
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2007 World Golf Championship - CA Championship |
22-25 March - WGC - CA Championship - Doral Golf Resort and Spa - Blue Monster Course. Tiger Woods bagged another $1.35m for his two-shot win over Ryder Cup team mate Brett Wetterich at the Blue Monster Course at the Doral Resort in Miami, Florida between 22nd-25th March 2007. No one ever got closer than three shots to Tiger on the final afternoon. The World Golf Championships are played over five continents – and feature the top 50 players from the Official World Golf Rankings along with top finishers on the money lists of six Tours comprising the International Federation of PGA Tours (PGA TOUR, European Tour, Australasian Tour, Japan Golf Tour, Asian Tour and Southern Africa Tour). The formats vary - match play, strokeplay and team - but the purses are always big! The WGC CA Championship is the fifth tournament Woods has won at least three times in a row. |
In Angel Cabrera's bag...A Ping staff player, 'El Cato's' bag contains a set of Ping S58 irons (the eagle-eyed amongst you will notice these are red dot which is 1 degree flat). He also carries a Ping Rapture 7.5 degree driver. We understand his fairway wood is the much older model Ping ISI tec. Wedges are Titleist Vokey Spin Milled while the putter headcover houses a Ping Redwood Anser.
(CLICK ON IMAGES TO SEE FULL SIZE VERSION). |
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