At 7.48am on Sunday, Brent Watson teed off in the NSW Foursomes Championships at Bankstown Golf Club. After the first round, he and playing partner Michael Smyth were one stroke behind the leaders.
But Watson was so distressed after a series of telephone calls with Cronulla superstar Greg Bird in the clubhouse between rounds that he was forced to withdraw after only a handful of holes that afternoon.
Watson had been staying with Bird for the past three weeks in preparation for the NSW amateur titles, wanting to save on petrol money because he lives in the Hunter Valley where he and Bird went to school together.
Now he stands accused by his lifelong friend of glassing Bird's girlfriend Katie Milligan - a claim police have already dismissed.
In Sutherland Local Court yesterday, police alleged that Bird had claimed Watson was to blame for the assault on Milligan. Watson was unavailable for comment last night and all his father, Mick, a well-known union leader in the Hunter Valley, would say was: "He'd been down in Sydney for the state amateurs and it was cheaper to stay with someone he knew rather than to get a place, which is how he ended up there."
No longer. Watson did not stay at Bird's house on Sunday evening and was last night returning to his family home in Branxton, his friendship with Bird in tatters.
Witnesses at Bankstown Golf Club on Sunday have told the
Herald that the talented state amateur, who is on the verge of turning professional, "looked like a zombie" when he finished his first round and noticed nine missed calls on his mobile phone, presumably from Bird. The court was told yesterday that Bird had called him in a panic, pleading for his help.
"Something has happened to Katie. It was an accident," Bird allegedly said in the phone call to Watson. "There is blood everywhere in the unit. We have told police it's you. How do you feel about that?"
Watson was then late for his tee-off for the second round and was so visibly upset that Smyth had to console him as they walked down the first fairway.
He then sat down on his own to collect his thoughts and eventually withdrew a handful of holes later and returned to the clubhouse where he was overheard saying he was dealing with "personal issues".
That he had become embroiled in a major off-field drama involving one of the NRL's biggest names was not known to his fellow golfers.
Despite walking off, Watson and Smyth returned to the course to finish their round but he lasted only a couple more holes before leaving the course.
He then went to Miranda Police Station and gave a statement. He was later released without charge after they accepted he was playing golf at the time of the alleged offence.
"Brent commenced playing in the NSW champs on Sunday morning and he and his playing partner Michael Smyth were a number of peers who failed to complete the tournament," NSW Golf Association executive director Greg Mills told the
Herald.
The court also heard that Bird allegedly put Watson in contact with a solicitor, who told him: "We don't want this matter getting into the media."
It is also claimed that Bird sent Watson a text message while being interviewed by police that said: "My manager [Gavin Orr] is helping us sort this s--t out."
Police prosecutor Matt Zalunardo told the court: "This places considerable doubt on the version of Mr Bird."
Watson had been staying at Bird's beachside apartment for the past three weeks but now Bird has been ordered by the court to not approach him.
He was expected to stay at his parents' home for the next two days and resume his job in the pro shop of one of the Hunter Valley's luxury golf resorts.
http://www.leaguehq.com.au/news/new...feel-about-that/2008/08/25/1219516372405.html
