Stick Episode 1 Recap: Will Santi find out he’s being blackmailed?

Apple TV Plus’ new comedy series Stick kicks off with an absolute bang. In the very first minutes, it gives us a front-row seat to a golfer’s hilarious (and slightly sad) breakdown. This is not your average sports drama. Instead, it’s a bold, ridiculous, and surprisingly deep character-driven show that knows how to blend comedy with chaos.

Price Cahill, played by Owen Wilson, was once the bright hope of the golf world. He won his first major at 23 and had the talent to be a legend. But now at 47, he’s just a messy remibmnder of what could’ve been. His charm is still there, but it's buried under a pile of regrets, alcohol, and very bad decisions.

The show opens at the lush and prestigious Augustine National Golf Club. Everything looks picture-perfect… until Price enters the scene. His entrance instantly clashes with the peaceful surroundings, setting the tone for the chaotic ride ahead.

From hero to headline mess in Stick

As Price speaks in a voiceover, we learn his view on golf: "It’s not always about patience. Sometimes, it’s about throwing your club into the water and flipping off the crowd." That line tells you everything about him. He’s not a typical golf pro, he’s a walking disaster with a wicked sense of humor.

We see young Price on magazine covers with headlines like “Golf’s Next Big Thing.” Then comes the fall. Flashbacks show his downward spiral in Stick, public fights, viral clips of meltdowns, and a plummeting world ranking. It’s both funny and painfully real.

Animated graphics show how far Price has fallen, from World Number 3 to not even in the top 200. Mitz, his blunt and sarcastic manager (played by Marc Maron), doesn't sugarcoat anything. His line? "You're one tournament away from selling insurance, and you'd suck at that too."

This Stick's episode's highlight is Price’s complete breakdown during the Masters. After a decent start, a rain delay tempts him into having “just one drink.” That drink turns into disaster. He returns drunk, misses easy shots, fights with his caddy, moons the crowd, and crashes a cart into a sand trap. It's comedy gold.

After the meltdown, things go downhill fast. He’s kicked out of the tournament, loses his sponsors, and gets suspended for six months. In a sad press conference, he blames allergy meds, but no one buys it. Social media turns him into a punchline.

Then we meet 22-year-old Santi Wheeler. He’s everything Price isn’t: serious, focused, clean-cut. Santi trains hard, avoids parties, and seems destined for greatness. His coach even calls him “the most gifted golfer I’ve ever seen.”

The bar encounter – Idol meets disaster

Drunk and sulking in a hotel bar in Stick, Price sees Santi and introduces himself. Santi is starstruck, Price was his childhood hero. Their talk is awkward at first, but it takes a turn when Price points out a flaw in Santi’s swing. He’s right, and that moment changes everything.

Price uses the swing insight, and a secret he saw about Santi’s personal life, as leverage. He blackmails Santi into hiring him as a coach. It’s shady, yes, but also genius. Price says, “You get the best advice in golf. I get a paycheck. No one has to know about Room 714.”

Hungover and unprepared in Stick, Price fakes his way through the first coaching session with mystical golf wisdom like “Feel the club become your soul.” Somehow, it works. Santi’s impressed. Maybe Price isn’t as useless as he seems?

The episode ends with Price looking at the camera, saying, “I might actually be able to pull this off.” It's funny, desperate, and strangely hopeful. You're left wondering, can he really turn his life around?

Beyond the laughs, Stick dives into real themes, redemption, wasted talent, and second chances. The show’s direction, especially during Price’s meltdown, mixes classic sports visuals with raw, handheld shots that make you feel the chaos up close.

Director Craig Gillespie brings high energy, and the tone jumps between absurd comedy and touching drama, making it a truly binge-worthy ride.

Stick isn’t just a sports comedy. It’s about a broken man trying (badly) to find his way back into relevance. It’s about mentorship, manipulation, and maybe, just maybe, growth. With Owen Wilson leading a strong cast and plenty of unpredictable twists, this series promises to be Apple TV’s next big comedy hit.

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