It's not just the people of Argentina who are celebrating Angel Cabrera's surprising playoff victory in the 73rd Masters.

Officials at Oakmont Country Club also took great delight in his victory at the Augusta National Golf Club, and for obvious reason: It gives Cabrera two major titles in 22 months and helps validate his victory in the 2007 U.S. Open at Oakmont.

"It was great for us," said Oakmont head professional Bob Ford.

Golf is littered with many players who were surprise winners of major championships, most recently 2004 British Open champion Todd Hamilton and 2005 U.S. Open champion Michael Campbell, players who haven't even won another tournament -- much less a major -- since their championship victories.

But Cabrera, who hadn't won a tournament anywhere since his Open championship, escaped from that ignominious group when he parred both playoff holes to beat Kenny Perry, who bogeyed the final two holes to blow a two-shot lead.

"At the end of the day, with him winning, it sure did validate his win at Oakmont," Ford said.

Club officials have been wanting to bring Cabrera back to Oakmont so they can officially -- and ceremoniously -- present him with their own version of the green jacket, symbolizing lifetime membership in the club. Oakmont does that for all players who have won a major championship at its club.

They also want to show him the room in the club's newest guest cottage, overlooking the swimming pool, that bears his name. Located on the second floor, the Angel Cabrera room is right down the hall from rooms that bear the names of Steve Melnyk (1969 U.S. Amateur champion) and Gene Sarazen (1922 PGA), other past winners at Oakmont.

But Cabrera has not been back to Oakmont since he shot a final-round 69 to win the U.S. Open with a score of 5-over 285. He was supposed to visit last August before the World Golf Championship event at Firestone Country Club in Akron, Ohio, but canceled the visit at the last minute.

Oakmont is hoping to arrange another visit around this year's tournament in Akron, which is two hours away.

"We're very excited [about his victory]," said Oakmont general manager Tom Wallace. "It kind of solidifies him as a top-tier champion, certainly not at the level of Tiger [Woods], but he was a bit of an unknown when he won at Oakmont and now he has gained a lot of respect winning the Masters."

Indeed, Cabrera is one of only two active players on the PGA Tour who have won the Masters and the U.S. Open. The other is Woods.

"Two majors in a couple years really helps us," Wallace said.

Oakmont has not lost touch with Cabrera.

Last fall, an Oakmont member asked Ford if he had any recommendations about where to play golf in Argentina. So Ford e-mailed Cabrera's manager, Manuel Tagle Jr., and asked him for any suggestions.

Tagle arranged for the Oakmont member to play Cabrera's home course in Cordoba, Argentina, then surprised the member by having Cabrera play with him.

"He's a great guy to do that," Ford said of Cabrera.

Then he added, "When you win one major, that's nice. But, when you win two, that elevates you into a whole other group. It was a great win for Oakmont."