Cabrera ready to be a major player

Masters Follow-up:Only a week ago people were wondering what had gone wrong with Angel Cabrera. Ranked the game's ninth best player three-and-a half years ago and US Open champion in 2007 - after out-gunning Tiger Woods - he had slumped to 69th in the world and had gone more than 12 months without even a top-five finish.

They need worry no more - Cabrera is Masters champion, he is back in the world's top 20 and this time he thinks he will be able to handle being a major winner better than he did the first time.

"I think I'm more prepared," said the 39-year-old after beating Americans Kenny Perry and Chad Campbell in a play-off at Augusta National. "I think the US Open win got me by surprise. I am more aware."

Another hero's welcome was guaranteed as Cabrera returned home to Cordoba today - not just to see his family, but also for a tournament this week.

In Argentina talk of The Masters inevitably involves the 1968 tournament and Roberto de Vicenzo's famous quote.

"What a stupid I am," said the then British Open champion after signing a card which had him down for a par four on the 17th when everybody knew he had birdied.

Instead of going into a play-off with Bob Goalby he had to accept the higher score entered in error by playing partner Tommy Aaron and the record books will forever state he finished second.

That happened on De Vicenzo's 45th birthday and prevented him becoming the third oldest major champion in history.

Cabrera's victory, with a par at the second hole of sudden death, stopped 48-year old Perry becoming the oldest ever.

But the Ryder Cup hero and world number six had only himself to blame, just as he did when he lost the 1996 PGA Championship to Mark Brooks.

On that occasion Perry was two ahead on the final tee, took a bogey six and while spending time in the television booth instead of preparing for a possible play-off he watched Brooks catch him with a closing birdie.

This time he was two ahead with two to play after almost holing in one on the short 16th, but then bogeyed them both and, after Campbell had been eliminated with a bogey at the start of sudden death, he missed the green when he and Cabrera switched to the 10th hole and could not get up and down.

"I've got two to think about now," said Perry, who had missed a 15-footer for victory on the last. "But if this is the worst thing that happens to me, I can live with it.

"Great players get it done and Angel got it done."

Only just, though. Cabrera was in the trees at the final hole of regulation play and then hit a tree before saving par with a 114-yard wedge and seven-foot putt.

De Vicenzo, 86 tomorrow, would have been proud. Two years ago he gave the player known as "El Pato" - "The Duck" - a picture of him holding a green jacket and told Cabrera: "I hope this brings you luck so some day you can bring back a green jacket for yourself."

The Masters tradition is for the new champion to be helped into a club blazer by last year's winner, so South African Trevor Immelman did the honours last night.

Only last December Cabrera had his own scorecard blunder. He should have finished fourth in Buenos Aires, but forgot to sign his card and was disqualified.

The tournament was the Argentina Masters. Thank goodness it was not The Masters. Not after what happened to De Vicenzo.

Key to Cabrera's re-discovering the confidence to take his game to such heights again has been American coach Charlie Epps, whom he calls "Gordita" - little chubby one.

"It's what you dream of, but that's not to say we didn't think he could do it," said Spanish-speaking Epps. "I just never thought he would overcome his anger, but he's matured.

"He's been working hard all year and now it's all coming together.

"I told him 'You've won one, now let's win another'. He's a major winner - I keep reminding him of that. He's one of the best iron players I've ever seen - Hogan-esque. He hits the ball so solid.

"I put a video together of his Oakmont victory. He's always telling me how many putts he doesn't make and I tell him 'Just watch this'. He got a kick out of it."

He got more than that. He got a Masters out of it.