Analysis: Iain Carter, BBC golf correspondent

As a former winner of the Masters, Cabrera has a lifetime exemption to play the Augusta tournament and this Senior PGA victory provides another ticket to compete at major championship level.

The 55-year-old becomes eligible for next year’s US PGA at Aronimink, in the way that 2024 Senior PGA winner Richard Bland, 52, was able to compete at Quail Hollow earlier this month.

Bland, arguably playing the best golf of his long career, finished in a creditable share of 37th in North Carolina and beat several current superstars by qualifying for the weekend action.

Cabrera, who missed the cut on his return to the Masters in April, will be among the favourites to succeed Bland as US Senior Open champion in Colorado Springs next month as well as for July’s Senior Open at Sunningdale.