A year in the life: 12 months on from Sotogrande 

Twelve months can feel like a lifetime when opportunity decides to change the direction of an ordinary life. For Steven Alderson – better known as Spud – and his mate-turned-caddie, Trent Blucher, the past year has been nothing short of extraordinary.

When they received an invitation to compete on the G4D Tour and subsequently boarded a plane to Spain in October 2024, Trent thought he was simply tagging along to support a mate. He had a week off work, a golf bag to lug, and no expectation beyond helping Spud through a one-off opportunity. Neither of them could have imagined what awaited in Sotogrande, southern Spain. They left Adelaide with little more than hope, a sense of adventure, and the nervous thrill of an unexpected invitation. They returned with a trophy, international headlines, and a story that would carry them to places Spud had only dreamed about.

But now, a year on, the whirlwind has settled into something different: a new reality that is both exciting and uncertain, filled with promise yet weighed down by practical challenges. And at the centre of that reality is Trent, a mate who suddenly found himself living two lives – his own, and one devoted to making sure Spud’s dream could survive.

The spark ignited in Spain

The story begins, of course, with that October in Andalusia. Spud arrived at the G4D Tour Estrella Damm N.A. Andalucía Masters as a largely unknown name outside his home circles. What he carried, though, was a fierce love of the game and an authenticity that, once given the stage, could not help but shine through.

Trent watched it unfold from inside the ropes. On a course Spud breezily described as “pretty straightforward” – to the bemusement of seasoned observers – wedges were struck with precision, putts rolled in with calm assurance, and across two days he played golf at a level even he seemed only just to be discovering in himself.

When the final putt dropped and the trophy was placed in Spud’s hands, it wasn’t just a mate’s pride that Trent felt. It was the dawning realisation that his role had changed. The media interview that followed for Spud – raw, unscripted, speaking of golf, life, and bullying – lit a fuse that no one could have predicted. By the time they reached Málaga Airport, Spud’s phone wouldn’t stop buzzing. “I’ve gone viral,” he said. Trent knew, instinctively, that life was about to get complicated.

Riding the wave

What followed was a blur. Media requests poured in. Golf Australia stepped in to help, but much of the daily load fell on Trent. Tuesdays became “media days,” with long stretches of interviews, photo calls, and questions.

As the winner in Spain, Spud qualified for the DP World Tour season ending G4D Tour event in Dubai. Then came the Australian All Abilities Championship (AAAC) at the Australian Open, where Spud’s homecoming was met with standing ovations. LIV Adelaide brought the surreal experience of playing alongside Tyrrell Hatton and Tom McKibbin. There were Webex events, sponsor dinners, even photo ops with politicians.

Through it all, Trent’s role grew. He was no longer just the mate on the bag. He was the defacto manager, travel agent, press officer, and – when needed – the steady hand making sure Spud ate properly and got some sleep. On the road, basics matter: where to find roast potatoes, ascertain if chicken schnitzel was on the menu, and how to guarantee pancakes at breakfast. Once those were in place, Spud could rest and perform.

But supporting Spud also meant Trent had to juggle his own livelihood. Each trip away required weeks of preparation and recovery: ten days beforehand making sure his business and work commitments were secure, and another ten days afterwards catching up on what had been missed. It was, and still is a heavy toll, but Trent doesn’t think of it as a sacrifice. For him, it is simply what mates do – stepping in, making it work, and doing his best to give Spud the best shot possible.

Facing the new reality

A year on, the dust has settled. The spotlight has moved on. For Trent, the experience has clarified both the joy and the challenge of this life.

Travel is expensive – tens of thousands for a single trip to Europe. Prize money in G4D events is non-existent. Sponsorship has helped, but patchily. And while Trent is devoted, he cannot simply walk away from his own career to fund a permanent role. Balancing two worlds – his own professional life and his role alongside Spud – has been one of the hardest adjustments.

Yet even with the strain, Trent doesn’t see it as a burden. He knows the privilege of being inside the ropes, watching a mate achieve something extraordinary. For him, helping Spud isn’t about giving something up; it’s about making sure a friend’s opportunity isn’t wasted.

Trent also feels the emotional weight. He has seen how Spud is still sometimes excluded from the social side of golf, left off the casual invites that keep friendships alive. He knows how deeply that cuts. Fame doesn’t erase loneliness. Trent has come to understand inclusion not just as tee times and tournaments, but as belonging to the whole fabric of the game.

That sense of belonging is also what gave rise to Spud14. It’s a simple theme that Spud uses when talking about autism and golf. Just as the average golf bag carries 14 clubs – all called “golf clubs,” yet each one slightly different – so too, no two people on the autism spectrum are the same. Spud14 is about helping others understand that difference, and about Spud using his story to speak out on autism, inclusion, and bullying. The idea is that he’ll one day be connected with 14 organisations to support as an ambassador – carrying the message that being different doesn’t mean being left out.

Lessons learned

The past year has tested them both.

At the AAAC, Trent watched Spud arrive exhausted from media, drained before he even teed off. Missing the cut wasn’t about ability; it was about energy. That was when Trent learned the real priorities: rest, food, and peace of mind matter as much as range time.

In Dubai, Spud won but missed a lunch with Adam Scott because of media duties. Trent remembers laughing about it afterwards – “Sorry, Adam, rain check” – but the story became a parable of the balance they’re still learning to strike.

And across airports and practice greens, Trent has been struck by the friendships forged in this space. Watching players of all abilities laugh, compete, and bond has taught him that golf’s greatest gift isn’t trophies, but connection.

Hopes for the future

For Spud, the dream is simple: keep playing, keep travelling, keep making friends. He wants to welcome the world to Adelaide and show kids the joy of golf.

For Trent, the goal is structure. A proper 12-month plan, backed by reliable corporate support, so they aren’t stumbling from event to event. Not hand-outs, but partnerships that bring value both ways.

And beyond themselves, Trent sees the bigger picture. Progress for G4D golf doesn’t need to be dramatic, just steady. “Do it slightly better than last time,” he often says. Prize money isn’t the priority he feels. What matters are basics: accessible facilities, affordable travel, and opportunities for all players, not just the few. 

The road ahead

So where does that leave them, twelve months after Sotogrande?

They’re still chasing trophies, yes, but also something deeper: belonging, connection, sustainability. The spotlight may not always shine, but Trent knows what they have – friendship, resilience, and a story worth telling.

Spud will still smile when someone recognises him in an airport. He’ll still call every golf course “pretty straightforward.” And Trent will still be there – carrying the bag, but also carrying the weight of making sure the dream has a future. Not because he has to, but because he wants to. Because when a mate gets the chance of a lifetime, you do everything you can to help them take it.

Perhaps, in years to come, Sotogrande won’t just be remembered as the place Spud won a trophy. It will be remembered as the moment Trent’s life changed too – the spark that lit not just a golfing journey, but a partnership built on loyalty, belief, and love of the game.

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