BETHESDA, MD. In sports, the most endearing development is the return to relevance as an athlete. Time and talent are not two ingredients that remain in a fixed position. While the time clock is never ending — the same cannot be said of talent.
The remarkable story of Ángel Cabrera reached a crescendo when the gifted Argentinian won his second senior major event in a two-week time frame, an accomplishment never achieved, with a one-stroke win in the Senior PGA Championship played at the updated Congressional CC just outside of Washington, D.C.
Cabrera achieved a one-shot victory over Pádraig Harrington and Thomas Bjørn. It was Harrington who faltered over the final four holes with a double-bogey at the 15th and missed a 3-foot par-putt at the closing hole.
Cabrera scored a final round 69 for a four-round total of 280 and the winner’s first prize of $540,000.
During his prime playing years Cabrera’s talent was considerable. He became the first South American to capture the U.S. Open (2007) and the Masters in 2009. Cabrera nearly won a second green jacket before losing in a playoff to Adam Scott in 2013.
Where Cabrera is now in 2025 is a stark contrast to where he had been recently. In July, 2021 he was sentenced to two years in prison for threats and harassment of Cecilia Torres Mana, his partner between 2016 and 2018. In November 2022, he was also on trial for threats and harassment against Micaela Escudero, also a former girlfriend.
Cabrera pleaded guilty and the court made the two sentences concurrent and sentenced him to three years and 10 months in prison. He was released on parole in August 2023 and cleared to return to the PGA Tour Champions later that year.
The victory prompted Cabrera to be reflective of the twists and turns he encountered in recent years.
“I feel very emotional. Maybe you cannot see but I’m very, very emotional inside, especially after all the things that I went through. I can’t believe that I made it but I’m here and very happy of myself.”
The Senior PGA Championship also brought back into national focus Congressional CC. The storied Bethesda, Maryland club had been a steady championship venue in years past having staged three U.S. Opens and the 1976 PGA Championship. But after the 2011 U.S. Open when record scores were posted by winner Rory McIlroy the general feeling was that the club was no longer worthy in staging golf’s most important championships.
The club did not go quietly into the night. A concerted strategic plan was adopted and architect Andrew Green was hired in February 2019. The “new” Blue Course now plays to a maximum length of 7,820 yards as a par-72 layout. For the Senior PGA Championship, the layout was played at 7,152 yards, par-72.
Green deftly eliminated countless numbers of trees that only served to choke playing areas. Fairways were widened and strategic elements that were previously suffocated now provide more options for players to consider. The majestic 135,000 square-foot Spanish revival clubhouse is now in view from nearly all the holes.
A new short par-3 was added at the 10th that brilliantly mandates dexterity with a short iron to the 150-yard hole well-protected by a pond and an array of internal vexing movements.
The “new” Blue Course that Green updated is now more in alignment with its original architect Devereux Emmet.
Congressional will see plenty of future action as the PGA of America had pledged to host eight various championships that it administers in the next two decades. Most notably the KPMG Women’s PGA in Championship in 2027, the PGA Championship in 2030 and the 2037 Ryder Cup.
Two significant outcomes were front and center last week. The ongoing return to championship form of Ángel Cabrera and the reintroduction of Congressional CC as a championship host venue.
While many might question what comes out of Washington, D.C. on the governmental side – the golf world clearly benefits from both developments.
