New Sports Channels Spotlighting a Kevin Costner Classic
There’s a bittersweet yet uplifting tone in Stick — Apple TV+’s latest underdog sports dramedy that clearly takes some inspiration from Ted Lasso. On the surface, Jason Keller’s series leans on familiar tropes borrowed from classic sports films and modern TV comedies—complete with jokes highlighting the clash between Gen Z and Gen X—but beneath that somewhat predictable setup lies a surprisingly heartfelt story that caught me off guard.
The premise is straightforward: Pryce Cahill (played by Owen Wilson, who brings a quietly magnetic charm) is a once-promising pro golfer now down on his luck, working as a golf club salesman. Facing financial ruin amid a messy divorce, Pryce is at risk of losing the home filled with his cherished golf memories. But then, one day while teaching an elderly woman at a driving range, hope reappears in the form of a perfect swing.
That swing belongs to Santi (Peter Dager), a teenage golf prodigy trained by his absent father to go pro. Pryce instantly recognizes Santi’s raw talent — the potential he once saw in himself. Though initially hesitant, Santi eventually agrees to partner with Pryce and hit the road for tour life. Supporting them are Santi’s fiercely proud Latino mother, Elena (Marian Trevino), and Pryce’s longtime friend and former caddy, Mitts (Marc Maron, effortlessly playing the grumpy, fed-up sidekick).
Much like Ted Lasso and many beloved sports movies before it, golf is really just the backdrop here — a setting where deeper human stories unfold. Santi’s skill is undeniable; what he needs is mental coaching, something Pryce is uniquely qualified to provide. Having experienced the highs and lows of competitive golf, along with a tragic loss as a parent, Pryce offers guidance that goes beyond the sport.
If this sounds familiar, you might be thinking of Ron Shelton’s underrated 1990s gem Tin Cup — arguably one of the best golf movies ever made.
Stick and Tin Cup share more than just the sport
Before any die-hard Shelton or Kevin Costner fans jump in, let me say Stick isn’t quite in Tin Cup’s league. The latter is a cult classic with that unmistakable ’90s charm (I recently re-watched it for the fourth time), led by Costner — an actor synonymous with ’80s and ’90s sports dramas like Bull Durham and For Love of the Game. But Keller’s series and Tin Cup share key elements that help Stick grow on you quickly.
Costner’s character, Roy McAvoy, is a washed-up golfer stuck at a rundown driving range, struggling financially with a $12,000 debt to his stripper ex. He’s stubborn, bull-headed, and repeatedly self-sabotages with reckless bravado. Owen Wilson’s Pryce feels like a more mature Roy — older, wiser, and a bit more measured, but still prone to impulsive moments. Both wrestle with gambling problems, though Pryce uses his golf savvy and smooth talk to hustle rather than just throw money away.
Roy and Pryce also share a complicated relationship with intimacy, each struggling to express their emotions openly. In Tin Cup, Roy’s awkward attempts at romance with Molly (Rene Russo) are played mostly for laughs, while Pryce’s emotional walls in Stick stem from deeper, more painful personal grief. This vulnerability makes him relatable and adds genuine emotional weight to the story.
Romance and chemistry play important roles in both stories, sometimes feeling a bit over-the-top — think Santi and Zero’s (Lilli Kay) brief fling or Roy and Molly’s awkward flirtations. But more often, these relationships quietly enrich the narrative, giving supporting characters moments of tenderness that linger beautifully in the background.
