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Cabrera 'in shock' at US Open win

18/06/2007

US Open champion Angel Cabrera says he is 'still in shock' at becoming first Argentine for 40 years to win a major.

The portly 37-year-old held on to record a one-shot win ahead of established American stars Jim Furyk and Tiger Woods at the Oakmont Country Club over the weekend.

In doing so he joined 1967 British Open champion Roberto de Vicenzo as the only Argentinean major champions, but remained humbled by his achievement.

"I watched all the majors on TV when I was a kid, and I never thought I would be here at this moment," Cabrera said. "It is very difficult to describe.

"Probably when I wake up with this trophy beside me in my bed, I will realise that I have won the US Open."

Cabrera said he looks forward to the tournament each year as his form is usually a step ahead of the rest of his season, but still claimed he relied on the failings of others this week in order to take the trophy with an overall score of five-over-par.

"I definitely usually play very well in the US Open," he said.

"Most of the time I'm not making any putts. But this week everybody was missing the putts so that gave me an advantage."

And when asked if it was particularly satisfying to snatch a major trophy away from all-conquering world number one Woods, Cabrera was suitably democratic.

"The good thing is that I beat everybody here, not only Tiger Woods," he said.

Woods himself was also full of praise for his opponent for the way he held his round together in the face of such pressure.

"Angel played a beautiful round of golf," Woods said.

"He had some great golf shots, and that's what you have to do. He went out there and put all the pressure on Jim and I and we fell one shot short."

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