Hello, everyone! Hope you’re all doing well. Today, I’m diving into a review of the drama Stick, which features Owen Wilson in a heartfelt sports comedy. It’s a story more about human bonds than flawless golf strokes.
Debuting on June 4, 2025, this series is set for 10 episodes, crafted by Jason Keller exclusively for Apple TV+. Pryce Cahill (Owen Wilson) was once on the path to golf stardom until a meltdown on the course derailed his journey. Now struggling, he puts everything into guiding Santi—a young prodigy with extraordinary promise—in hopes of finding redemption.
This is far from a typical sports drama. It’s reminiscent of a blend between Happy Gilmore and Ted Lasso, focusing on broken individuals healing through unexpected mentorship. The cast is exceptional, with Judy Greer, Marc Maron, and Timothy Olyphant delivering outstanding supporting roles, adding depth to a narrative that could easily be a simple underdog tale.
A Fresh Start for Pryce
An aging former golfer, fired from his job, finds hope in mentoring a troubled teen prodigy after his wife leaves him, hinging his future on the teen’s success. Pryce Cahill’s life is now a series of setbacks and lost chances. Once a budding professional golfer, he’s now a golf club salesman, just scraping by financially and emotionally.
Peter Dager as Santi Wheeler, a skilled golfer who quit after his father abandoned his mother, becomes the spark for Pryce’s possible redemption. Santi has the raw talent Pryce once had but carries his own emotional burdens threatening to derail his bright future. When these two troubled souls meet at a driving range, an unexpected partnership forms that might save them both.
The series takes its time to develop this central bond, showing how both mentor and mentee grow from each other. It’s not merely about refining a golf swing; it’s about facing personal challenges, rebuilding trust, and finding purpose when life seems full of setbacks.
Owen Wilson’s Transformative Role as Pryce Cahill
Owen Wilson gives one of his most authentic and emotionally genuine performances as Pryce Cahill. Absent are the usual Wilson quirks and verbal habits. Instead, we see a man deeply grappling with failure, regret, and the fear that his best days are behind him.
Pryce is a multifaceted character who could easily become a stereotype, but Wilson finds the humanity in his struggles. He’s dealing with divorce, financial woes, and the crushing realization that his professional dreams are shattered. Yet, Wilson never lets Pryce become entirely pitiful or unsympathetic. There’s a resilient spirit beneath all the disappointment, and watching Pryce gradually rediscover his zeal through coaching Santi is genuinely moving.
The script allows Wilson to display his dramatic range while still weaving in moments of his natural charm and humor. It’s a career-redefining performance that proves Wilson can carry a series with depth and emotional substance.
Santi Wheeler: The Talent with Trust Issues
Peter Dager brings impressive realism to the role of Santi Wheeler, a talented golfer who gave up after his father left his mother. Dager, making his acting debut, stands strong alongside the seasoned cast with a portrayal that feels genuinely lived-in rather than acted.
Santi’s relationship with golf is complicated by his abandonment issues and a protective nature toward his mother. He has the potential to go pro, but emotional hurdles prevent him from fully committing to the sport. His dynamic with Pryce becomes a sensitive dance of building trust, as both characters have been let down by father figures in different ways.
The chemistry between Wilson and Dager forms the emotional heart of the series. Their scenes together are charged with the tension of two people who desperately need what the other offers but are hesitant to fully invest in the relationship.
Community at Sparling Meadows
Lilli Kay as Zero, a bartender at Sparling Meadows, offers grounded support and occasional reality checks for both Pryce and Santi. Mariana Treviño, Jamie Neumann, and Lilli Kay are added to the cast to create an ensemble that feels like an authentic community rather than mere plot devices.
Marc Maron brings his trademark neurotic energy to his supporting role, while Judy Greer and Timothy Olyphant complete a cast that enhances every scene they’re in. Each character is fully fleshed out with their own motivations and backstories, enriching the central plot.
A Hit on Apple TV+
Stick is the ideal show for those craving another heartwarming sports comedy while waiting for the next season of Ted Lasso. The series has resonated with viewers on Apple TV+, who appreciate the wonderful yet flawed characters forming bonds and healing. Owen Wilson’s new golf show ‘Stick’ premiered with three episodes on Apple TV+. New episodes are released weekly, allowing audiences to relish each chapter of this character-driven tale.
Owen Wilson and Marc Maron shine. I’ve grown to love all the characters (even the irritating ones!) and eagerly anticipate Season 2, perfectly capturing the show’s allure. While golf sets the scene, the true story is about these wonderful but broken people bonding and healing. The series deftly balances sports action and human drama, making it appealing to both golf fans and those indifferent to the sport.
If you enjoy stories of second chances and unexpected mentorship, Stick is the perfect series to binge on Apple TV+. It’s a show that understands that sometimes the most meaningful victories occur off the course, in those quiet moments when people decide to trust one another again.
A beautifully crafted series that uses golf as a backdrop for a deeper narrative about healing, redemption, and believing in someone else when you can’t believe in yourself.
Series Details:
Number of Episodes: 10
Platform: Apple TV+
IMDb Rating: 7.8/10
Genre: Sports Comedy-Drama
Protagonists: Owen Wilson (Pryce Cahill), Peter Dager (Santi Wheeler)
Antagonist: Personal demons and past failures (internal conflicts)