With an Argentina flag draped over his shoulders, Cabrera held the trophy aloft through the sunroof of a station wagon during the drive with a police escort at Villa Allende in the central province of Cordoba.

Cheering and clapping bystanders, and others who honked their horns, were greeted by thumbs up from Cabrera and his cries of "Thank you! Thank you!"

The first Argentine winner of a golf major in 40 years stopped briefly in a local plaza to thank a crowd of more than 200 people. There was also a banner noting his nickname "Pato," which read "Welcome, Duck!" in Spanish over the words "Ganador, Abierto Golf EE.UU."

Translation: "Winner, The U.S. Open."

Cabrera survived charges by Tiger Woods and Jim Furyk to win by a stroke on Sunday at Oakmont, Pennsylvania. The only other Argentine to win a major was Roberto De Vicenzo in the 1967 British Open.

Cabrera was joined by his two sons in the motorcade to his home, not far from where he first learned to golf as a caddie at a local club.