Cabrera aims for revenge

Angel Cabrera is golf’s newest major champion – yet he could have easily have won the last Open at Carnoustie eight years ago.

The play-off was between Paul Lawrie, Jean Van de Velde and Justin Leonard, but Cabrera would have been there too if he had holed his putt on the final green.

“It barely missed on the right,” recalled the Argentinian today.

“I really didn’t notice when I finished that I was so close to winning.”

Cabrera entered the last round eight behind Van de Velde, but when he signed for a one-under 70 he knew his title hopes were over because Lawrie, 10 adrift after 54 holes, had already shot 67.

Little attention was paid to him then. But it is now after he held off Tiger Woods and Jim Furyk to win the US Open at Oakmont and become his country’s first major winner since Roberto de Vicenzo at Hoylake in 1967.

And that success has elevated Cabrera to new heights – both golfing and social.

“Next week we’re going to see the president. The president has asked me to come visit,” said Cabrera.