The Golf Watch

Cabrera quits smoking

At first glance, a post like this might seem insignificant.  However, Angel Cabrera's smoking several packs of cigarettes a round had become a part of who he was as a golfer.  Whenever any fan followed him around the course, it was expected that Cabrera would take a puff, put his cig on the ground, hit a 3-iron five feet from the pin, and then continue puffing away. 

But Tim Rosaforte reported earlier today on Golf Central that Cabrera has quit.  Apparently, the reigning U.S. Open champ had the flu earlier this spring, and stopped smoking for ten days.  Cabrera decided enough was enough, and chose to quit altogether.  Rosaforte said:

You wonder what a player like that is going to do or react under the gun.  He hasn't really played well enough to get into that position yet, maybe we'll see, maybe it will happen at Torrey Pines.   

Besides John Daly, I can't think of too many other golfers who regularly smoke out on tour. 

Rose captures Order of Merit, Cabrera wins in Singapore

Justin Rose captured the European Tour's Order of Merit title on Sunday with his playoff win at the Volvo Masters.  Ernie Els was leading the Order of Merit heading into this week's tournament, but opted to play in Singapore instead, where he missed the cut.  Rose had played in only 12 tournaments on the European Tour and still managed to win the money title, a feat that hadn't been accomplished in the Tour's modern history.  As for the Barclays Singapore Open, Angel Cabrera won the title by one stroke over Vijay Singh.  Americans Charles Howell III and Phil Mickelson both struggled, finishing 14 and 16 strokes back respectively. 

Cabrera wins PGA Grand Slam of Golf on third playoff hole, beats Harrington

It wasn't looking good for reigning US Open Champion Angel Cabrera earlier today at the PGA Grand Slam of Golf.  He triple-bogeyed the par-4 first hole and bogeyed the second.  But Cabrera recovered, with eagles on both par-5's on the back-9.  He forced a playoff with reigning British Open champion Padraig Harrington, and defeated the Irishman on the third playoff hole with a birdie.  Cabrera told Jim Huber of TNT Sports with the help of a translator, "It's definitely been a great year after the U.S. Open win, finishing like this with a victory here, it’s been a great year.  It cannot be better."   

Cabrera makes 10 on par-3 6th

Earlier today at the PGA Championship, reigning US Open champion Angel Cabrera stepped up to the 200-yard par-3 6th hole at even-par overall after coming off of a birdie on the par-5 fifth hole.  Cabrera hit his first tee shot out of bounds and then proceeded to hit his second shot up against a fence.  He then hit a provisional into the water, chipped onto the green, and three putt for a 10.  Cabrera finished at 11-over-par overall.  "This is just a sad thing that happened here," said Brandel Chamblee on Live from the PGA Championship. Interestingly, fellow countryman Andres Romero also shot an 81 with a triple bogey on the par-3 6th. 

Romero says Cabrera's win has caused a huge ripple in Argentina

Andres Romero, a rising star on the European Tour from Argentina, said on European Tour Weekly on The Golf Channel that Angel Cabrera's US Open win has had a huge impact in Argentina.  "Not only has he (Cabrera) motivated me, but he has given all of the Argentinians on tour great hope.  To win and come first at the US Open is just a massive achievement for him," said Romero, who finished 35th on the Order of Merit last year.  "That win has caused a huge ripple in Argentina.  A real explosion, I would say.  I think his win is going to motivate both professionals and amateurs alike, it’s also going to motivate those who aren’t so well off to take up the game."  Cabrera and Romero will be playing this week at the Scottish Open. 

Rude: Don't be surprised if Cabrera wins another major

Jeff Rude of golfweek.com writes, "Don’t be surprised if Cabrera wins another major, now that he has belief. For years his confidence and putting held him back. But he has a game for all seasons, as shown by his multiple top 10s in the U.S. and British Opens and the Masters."  He also expects Cabrera to play well at this year's British Open. "Keep an eye on the Argentine at Carnoustie. In just his second major championship start, Cabrera finished one shot out of the three-man playoff there at the 1999 British Open."

Cabrera, fourth international player in a row to win US Open

Argentina's Angel Cabrera won not only the first major of his career, but also became the fourth international player in a row to win the U.S. Open.  Cabrera shot a 1-under 69 to finish 5-over overall, the same total that 2006 winner Geoff Ogilvy finished with to win at Winged Foot last year.  With the help of a translator, Cabrera told reporters at his press conference that although he knew that he had defeated everyone else in the field, he felt that Oakmont beat him.  "I was able to be the best player…but I wasn’t able to beat the golf course.  The golf course beat me," said Cabrera, who added that he has never had a swing coach.  Cabrera's caddy, Eddie Gardino, told Steve Sands of The Golf Channel, "He (Cabrera) was pretty calm all week. He had a great attitude and stroked the ball absolutely perfect the whole week.  So, he deserves it…I think this will be huge for him.  He’s going to break through after this and he’s going to win more majors."  Gardino was recognized by many watching on television and in the gallery at Oakmont as a contestant on The Big Break on The Golf Channel.  Mark Rolfing said, "Every kid in Argentina that has a chance to play golf is going to start dreaming about winning the US Open.”

Cabrera plays poorly off tee, four shots off lead

Second-round leader Angel Cabrera hit only 29 percent of the fairways in yesterday's third round at the U.S. Open, resulting in a 6-over 76 that puts him 4 strokes behind leader Aaron Baddeley.  Robert Dvorchak of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette writes that "it was the driver, above all else, that led to his fall."  Dvorchak adds, "At four shots behind leader Aaron Baddeley, Cabrera is hardly out of contention. But he knows he has to rally, and he'll need help from the players in front of him."

Cabrera birdies 9th, knocks out Mickelson, Donald

Argentina's Angel Cabrera shot a 1-over 71 Friday, leaving him at even-par overall with the second round lead heading into the weekend.  Going into the 9th hole, which was Cabrera's last hole of the day, the world's 41st ranked golfer was tied at 1-over-par with Bubba Watson.  At the time, the cut-line was at 11-over, due to the 10 stroke rule, which states that anyone who is within 10 strokes of the lead makes the cut at the US Open.  But, after Cabrera birdied the difficult par-4 9th, he knocked out playing partner Luke Donald, the world's second ranked player Phil Mickelson, and all others at 11-over-par.  After his round, Cabrera said, "It’s a tournament that really motivates you.  You play with a lot of intensity and it really makes you focus out there.”  This is the first missed cut for Mickelson in a major since the 1999 British Open at Carnoustie.