Angel Cabrera wins back-to-back senior majors, continuing his comeback just 21 months after prison.

Angel Cabrera’s redemption arc on the golf course took another dramatic step forward as the Argentine secured his second senior major title in just seven days, winning the Senior PGA Championship at Congressional Golf Club in Maryland.

The 55-year-old former Masters and US Open champion edged out European veterans Padraig Harrington and Thomas Bjorn by a single stroke, coming from behind in the closing holes to seal the victory. The win follows Cabrera’s triumph at the Regions Tradition on Monday, marking an extraordinary double within the senior circuit.

Cabrera, once revered for his powerful game and swagger on the fairways, has endured a public fall from grace. After being found guilty in 2021 of assault and intimidation against former partners, he served 30 months in South American prisons. His release came in August 2023, and since then, the veteran golfer has offered public apologies and gradually returned to competition.

Now, just 21 months after walking free, Cabrera is lifting trophies again — and making headlines not for his past, but for his present form.

At Congressional, the final round saw him reel in long-time leader Harrington, with a flawless stretch over the final six holes. Harrington, seeking his third senior major title, faltered slightly with a bogey at 17, while Cabrera held his nerve to finish one under for the day, enough for an overall win by a single shot. Denmark’s Bjorn joined Harrington in second after a closing 68.

Cabrera’s win also opens doors to the bigger stages. By claiming the Senior PGA title, he becomes eligible for next year’s US PGA Championship at Aronimink. As a past Masters winner, he retains a lifetime exemption to Augusta, though his return in April saw him miss the cut after a six-year absence from the tournament.

BBC golf correspondent Iain Carter noted the growing list of opportunities now open to the resurgent Cabrera. “This victory provides another ticket to compete at major championship level,” Carter said. “He’ll be among the favourites at next month’s US Senior Open and July’s Senior Open at Sunningdale.”

The sporting resurgence is as startling as it is controversial. Though Cabrera has expressed remorse and says he is seeking a quieter, more focused life, his presence on the professional stage is not without its detractors.

Still, on the course, his intent is unmistakable. His shot-making in the final round was crisp, and he carried himself with the poise of a player who’s seen — and survived — the highs and lows of elite sport and personal ruin. The raw power of his game remains intact, while his mental resilience, honed through both personal hardship and professional glory, now appears sharper than ever.

Cabrera’s back-to-back senior major victories put him in rare company and have transformed his once tentative return into a formidable statement of intent. Where many saw a fallen hero, Cabrera seems determined to prove he’s still capable of championship-calibre golf.

His next test will be the US Senior Open in Colorado Springs, where another strong showing could cement his status as the most compelling story on the senior tour. But the bigger picture looms larger: a man grappling with a complex past, seeking redemption on the greens where he once reigned supreme.