Angel Cabrera has defended his return to the Masters after he was jailed for assaulting two ex-girlfriends.

The Argentine, who triumphed in 2009, served 30 months thanks to a domestic violence conviction - and his return to Augusta has sparked considerable controversy.

However, the 55-year-old was in a defiant mood on Tuesday. ‘I won the Masters, why not [play the Masters]?’ he said when asked to respond to those who believe he should not have been invited to Augusta.

‘Obviously I regret things that happened and you learn from them, but at the same time those are in the past and we have to look forward, what’s coming.’

Cabrera, who admitted throwing a mobile phone at the head of one ex and injuring her scalp, did at least say he understood the furore around his return. 

‘I respect their opinion and everybody has their own opinion and I respect that,’ he said.

Cabrera will be here for the first time since 2019, with former champions automatically invited. 

‘Life has given me another opportunity, I got to take advantage of that and I want to do the right things in this second opportunity.’

Meanwhile, Australia’s Adam Scott, who defeated Cabrera in a playoff to win the 2013 Masters, hailed his return.

‘I can't wait to see him,’ Scott said. ‘It's a happy thing for me. We've got a fairly long history. 

'I first met him on the European Tour before we both were on the PGA Tour. We've played Presidents Cups, we've been partners.’