Cabrera Puffs His Way To Victory in US Open

You know, if he understood English better, Angel Cabrera might have been a little upset. I mean, here's a guy who just won the US Open, and everyone was talking about the other guy - Tiger Woods.

Actually, in speaking through an interpreter, even Cabrera talked about Tiger. "Tiger can birdie any hole. He is No. 1". But not Sunday. Not at this US Open. Tiger couldn't one putt anything under 12 feet for the entire tournament. No, the guy who was No. 1 on Sunday was Angel Cabrera, "El Pato". And before you think that's a nifty nickname, it means "the Duck".

Here's a guy who dropped out of elementary school to help support the family by caddieing at a local country club. He plays golf because it's the only thing he knows how to do. With a physique like that, he certainly couldn't make a living at the national sport of Argentina - soccer. This is a guy who looked like a lot of dads out on courses everywhere on Father's Day - overweight, needing a shave, laughing with his caddy while he grabbed a quick smoke. Lots of quick smokes.  I mean, here's someone who even John Daly told he'd let himself go. He was there to shoot a round of golf and have a good time. While he waited for his turn, he bounced the ball of his putter. The only thing that was missing while he sat in the clubhouse waiting for Tiger Woods to finish? A drink in his hand.

Does it matter that Cabrera has won three times on the European Tour, or 11 in South America? Or does it make any difference that he has played in eight US Opens without missing a cut? Or that he finished seventh at last year's British Open or has three top-10s at the Masters? I don't think so. No, I think what matters to all the weekend golfers who sat there watching Cabrera swing and Tiger choke, was that a guy who learned the game on his own, who didn't get a college schalarship or any formal instruction, was able to win the US Open.

Angel Cabrera did more for the average guy's dream of golf greatness in that final round than just about anything in the history of golf.