For Cabrera, Masters Makes It Twice as Nice

For Angel Cabrera, winning the Masters Tournament was a validation. There are many golfers with one major title on their resume, much fewer with two.

When Cabrera, the long-hitting Argentine, won the U.S. Open in 2007 at Oakmont Country Club in suburban Pittsburgh, it had historic and global implications. When he won a Green Jacket last year at Augusta National Golf Club, it elevated his status immeasurably. Nobody can call him a one-hit wonder now.

“It’s very important for me,” Cabrera said Tuesday during the annual pre-Masters champion’s press conference. “It signifies a lot of importance that I can win majors. It wasn’t just by luck that I won the U.S. Open. It tells me that I can get those big tournaments. It gives me a lot of merit, and it especially helps me that I can win more tournaments.”

Cabrera said he’s working hard on his game in preparation for the Masters.

“I still have some weeks left,” he said. “I’m going to dedicate more and work hard this month and really get there in a good form. But I still have a lot of work to do and I have some time to prepare still.

“Augusta is a special tournament you have to prepare mentally, physically.You can’t just get to the tournament thinking you have to play. You have to know really exactly how your game is and what you want and the way you want to challenge the course.”

Cabrera’s affection for Augusta National and his tendencies help with the blueprint.

“I like the course a lot,” he said. “There’s nothing tricky. It’s out there. It’s a good golf course. I think one of the keys is always the second shot to the greens. And also, if you don’t hit the greens, how you can recover with your short game; I think that’s the most important thing, second shots and short game.”