The memories of his 2007 U.S. Open triumph have come flooding back for Argentina’s affable Angel Cabrera.

Cabrera became only the second Argentinean to win a Major when he won at Oakmont nine years ago this week.

He had finished the tournament at 5-over par and denying, Tiger Woods and Jim Furyk by one stroke.

Cabrera went into day three leading at even par, and after finishing the first round at 1-under, and shooting 1-over on the second day, he struggled during the third round, finishing 6 strokes over par, putting him four strokes behind Aussie Aaron Baddeley and two behind Woods.

However Cabrera rebounded coming back very strong on the last day. He birdied one of the longest par-3 holes in major championship history when he sunk a 20-foot (6 m) putt at the 8th hole, which played at a lengthy 300 yards (274 m) on Sunday to finish with with a 5-over and 285 total.

“It’s mine” … Angel Cabrera proudly wraps his arms around the US Open trophy. (Photo USGA)

It was enough to secure first career major victory.

At a post-round interview Cabrera endeared himself to everyone saying at the time: “Well, there are some players that have psychologists, some have sportologists, I smoke.”

Cabrera became the first Argentine player to win the U.S. Open and the second to win a major, joining Roberto De Vicenzo, who won the British Open in 1967 at Royal Liverpool (Hoylake). Cabrera received the 2007 Olimpia de Oro (“Golden Olympia”) as Argentina’s sportsperson of the year.[9]

Now nine years later, Cabrera admits his emotions are just as strong.

“Well, it’s been very emotional this week with all the memories from back in ’07,” he said.

“So I’ve been waiting several years to actually be back here at this moment, to be back and play Oakmont again. Certainly, very emotional to be back.

“Certainly makes me really proud to be part of that very exclusive group of players that have won here. But let’s not forget that this is the U.S. Open and the U.S. Open is bigger than any other thing, whether it’s played here or there. So just the fact that I have won the U.S. Open gives me a lot of pride.

“No, you keep away!” Angel Cabrera points the finger at Tiger Woods after capturing the 2007 U.S. Open at Oakmont. (Photo – USGA)

“And as for the golf course, with the only difference from 2007 being a couple of bunkers on the 18th hole, pretty much the same, playing really tough, like it was playing back in ’07.”

Cabrera, now aged 46, has won three times on the PGA with two of those victories being Majors as he also captured the 2009 Masters while he would lose out in an Augusta play-off in 2013 to Australia’s Adam Scott.

“It’s already been proved that for some reason I just play better at Majors than regular tournaments,” he said.

“There’s something about the Majors that gets a lot of focus from me, a lot of the best of me, and that’s been basically the case for all of my golfing career.

“But then golf is very much a mental game. Of course, not only for the U.S. Open, but if I have to speak about the 2007 U.S. Open, I was hitting the ball so well off the tee, and I made some crucial putts that week. That was the mental part of the game that was better than any other week.”

Cabrera tees up this week in his 17th U.S. Open appearance but having withdrawn after a first round 75 in the Memorial and also missing the cut in the two PGA Tour events prior to that.

But then if you are looking for a 2007 U.S. Open victory connection Cabrera also missed the cut in his last event before winning in 2007 at Oakmont.

“This year has been a very tough season for me as I haven’t been playing well,” he admitted.

“I’ve been working really, really hard in all of the areas, different areas of my game. Not only putting, but every single aspect of the game.

“So I know that coming into a U.S. Open is going to take the best of me, and I’m not in the best position to actually play right now, but I hope just not to suffer too much this week.”

Cabrera will play the opening two rounds in the company of Ernie Els, winner in 1994 at Oakmont, and Furyk, who after finishing joint runner-up to Cabrera in 2007 at Oakmont, had captured the U.S. Open four years earlier at Olympia Fields.