Owen Wilson's New Golf Series 'Stick' Connects Him To His Late Father In A Truly Heartfelt Way

When it comes to golf, Owen Wilson used to have no interest in playing. That has all changed now. Thanks to his new Apple TV+ series Stick, Wilson not only picked up the sport but also found it surprisingly strengthened his connection with his late father, Robert Wilson. This new show features the actor as Pryce "Stick" Cahill, a former pro golfer whose career fell apart. He gets a second chance coaching a troubled 17-year-old golf talent.

Wilson, who is 56, recently shared with PEOPLE how learning golf changed the way he thought about his father. Robert Wilson, a former TV executive, passed away at 75 in May 2017 after a long battle with Alzheimer’s disease. "It just made me think about my dad more," Owen said. The show is a feel-good sports drama. It touches on several father-son relationships as these two strangers learn to work together. They hope to find success at tournaments across the country. This personal connection makes the series even more special.

As he prepared for Stick, Owen mentioned talking a lot with his brothers Luke and Andrew. He also spoke with a friend who played golf with his dad often. He asked them, "What was the best part of my dad's game?" According to a friend, his father was really good at "scrambling." This means when you are not getting on the green easily, you have to be creative to score. "And that was my dad's personality, I think in life too," Owen explained. He even joked that this might describe his own game now. He got some golf balls that say "scrambling man" on them because he is pretty good at it sometimes. This small detail highlights the personal touch he brings to his role.

How Owen Wilson's Late Father's Golf Habits Ended Up Influencing His New Show

Connecting With Family Through The Game And Finding Surprising Similarities

Owen’s father was a very keen golfer and was good at the sport. Both Luke, who is 53, and Andrew, who is 60, started playing golf when they were growing up in Dallas. But it was different for Owen, the middle brother. He is left-handed and never found the right form with the right-handed clubs. This changed in May 2023. Golf Digest reported that was when he started taking lessons and spending time at different clubs to get ready for Stick. He is also an executive producer on the show along with its creator and writer Jason Keller.

"I really wanted to prepare because I was nervous," Owen told the outlet. He added that it was "really about feeling comfortable on a golf course and also getting to know the dialogue." Owen also shared that while playing, he thought about his dad always telling him, "Oh, you’ve got to learn this game." And now, "I finally have," he continued. He noted that it is "a nice feeling to be connected with him in that way." It is interesting how a role can bring such a personal connection to life.

Owen has now found that he has a similar golf game to his father. He also told PEOPLE how some of his brothers' experiences on the golf course played a part in what viewers see on screen in Stick. He recalled his younger brother talking about playing with a pro who was very angry at the course. This pro would yell "This course owes me." Owen thought that was very funny. So, that idea made its way into the show. It captures the frustrating relationship people can have with a sport that takes and takes before it finally gives back. Owen jokingly agreed, saying golf "has some explaining to do. How dare you, golf." This kind of humor and real-life observation is a hallmark of the show.

Exploring The Heart of 'Stick': A Look At Mentorship, Grief, And Found Family

How The Series Delves Into Deeper Themes Beyond Just The Game of Golf

Stick is a sweet show that combines a sports story a road trip and a coming-of-age journey. It even has a brief caper movie feel. The show asks viewers to believe some things that stretch reality a bit. But it does this without making the show’s emotional intelligence feel silly. Golf is the main hook for the story. But it is not really about golf. It is about anger and happiness, getting lost and being found, being broken and getting fixed. It is also about listening and learning. These themes apply to all the main characters. Everyone feels hurt at some point.

If you thought Ted Lasso was too sentimental or not realistic enough, then this show might not be for you. I do not have that problem, and I am very happy with Stick. Owen Wilson plays Pryce Cahill. He is a former golf champion whose life fell apart after a family tragedy. His career ended after a televised meltdown on the course. Now he sells golf clubs and runs bar scams with his grumpy old caddy Mitts (Marc Maron). Pryce lives in a messy house filled with trash. He used to share it with his ex-wife Amber-Linn (Judy Greer) and he refuses to leave. He drinks beer smokes pot and eats cereal right out of the box. His dented yellow sports car is a reminder of his past success. Pryce's nickname is "Stick" but "Stuck" would also have been a good title for him.

One day while giving a lesson Pryce hears a sound that makes him turn. He finds 17-year-old Santi Wheeler (Peter Dager) hitting balls with great power and accuracy. Pryce starts asking questions. Santi first thinks Pryce is a bit crazy. He wonders "Aren’t younger people supposed to annoy older people, not the other way around?" But Pryce sees a chance to leave behind something other than a video clip of his worst day. He shows up at the grocery store where Santi works and offers to help him become great. Santi is already incredibly good but needs guidance.

Santi likes to hit golf balls to let off steam. But he has become distant from the game and does not want advice. We learn why later in the show beyond just being a typical teenager. His mother Elena (Mariana Treviño) encourages him. Santi slowly starts to warm up to the idea. This sets the stage for their journey through tournaments. They are heading to the big U.S. Amateur match. Pryce will also have a reunion with his old rival Clark Ross (Timothy Olyphant). Ross is as close as the series gets to a villain. But in the show’s friendly spirit, he is not truly evil at all.

After some hurdles and deals in the first two episodes, Pryce, Santi, Elena (and her three small dogs), and Mitts hit the road. They travel in Mitts’ Winnebago. He had planned to visit national parks in it with his late wife. He is very attached to it. Soon they pick up a fifth companion, Zero (Lilli Kay). Zero is a young person without a fixed home or gender. Santi, angry with Pryce, meets Zero at just the right time. Zero had just quit their job as a clubhouse bartender. Zero says Pryce is using Santi for his own gain. But even though Zero starts out as a character who acts like a typical angry young person, Zero later joins the team.

The Performances and The Show's Honest Look At Relationships

Why The Actors Make These Characters Real And The Show's Promising Future

The series is a bit of a generation gap comedy. The creator Jason Keller, who also wrote Ford v. Ferrari, is 56. Young viewers might feel like their age group is not shown well. Older viewers might feel it speaks to their own thoughts about young people today. But these gaps are there to be overcome. There might be a bit too much storming off in the show. I think this is partly because of the series’ length and the need to create and solve problems and show feelings. On the other hand, Stick stays very focused. There are no side stories. This allows the dialogue to breathe. We learn things naturally instead of through lists of facts.

Like all good sports stories, the heroes are often underdogs. Winners are usually only interesting if they were losers first. Stick has elements of two popular story types: The Wizard of Oz and The Bad News Bears. The first two episodes were directed by Valerie Faris and Jonathan Dayton, who also directed Little Miss Sunshine, another story about underdogs on a road trip. Because of the kind of show this is, some things are going to happen that you want to happen. The series keeps you guessing even when you know what is coming. The main point is that the characters feel like real people, not just types. They stay consistent. Their reactions and interactions feel real. Stick works beautifully in this way.

The series relies on many wonderful performances. Owen Wilson fits his role so well it is like it was made for him. He is good at playing eccentric regular guys and adult-children. He can mix sadness and happiness. He says "I look in the mirror, I would not bet on that guy." But he is still an optimist. Marc Maron, as Mitts, brings a lot of subtle humor to his grumbling. He is the most open character. Mariana Treviño, as Elena, does great expressive things with her hands and eyes. Peter Dager and Lilli Kay handle their characters' ups and downs very well.

There are enough loose ends that it seems a second season was planned from the start. That is how TV works. But if a second season does not happen, the story arc this season completes is very satisfying. Not every question needs an answer. My affection for these characters makes me a bit afraid of the problems a second season would create for them. But I would certainly watch it!