Apple TV+'s Stick has found its rhythm by Episode 3, and “Daddy Issues” hits harder than a misjudged putt on a windy green. With themes of loss, redemption, abandonment, and pressure simmering beneath every scene, this episode gives its characters space to unravel—and just enough rope to maybe hang themselves with. It’s messy, emotional, and brilliantly human.
Pryce Cahill Hits Rock Bottom—Again
We pick up with Pryce Cahill still trying to glue back the pieces of his shattered life. Once the face of international golf, now he’s hustling overpriced clubs in a store, his once-glorious name now just a shadow in dusty hallways and YouTube fail compilations. He's living off commissions and the last shred of dignity that hasn’t already packed up and left.
He’s also overstaying his welcome in the house he used to share with his ex-wife Amber-Linn though they’ve been apart for years, Amber-Linn has allowed him to remain in what used to be their home. But after two years of watching the place fall into disrepair—and Pryce spiraling further into irrelevance—she’s done playing the kind ex. She offers him $75,000 if he agrees to sign the paperwork that will allow her to finally sell the house and move on with her life.
But for Pryce, this house isn’t just bricks and walls. It’s the final piece of his old life—the life he had before his breakdown, before fame slipped through his fingers, and most painfully, before the death of his son. Letting go isn’t just about selling property. It’s about surrendering the fantasy that he might one day go back to who he used to be.
A Side Hustle That Hits Too Close to Home
Desperate for cash but allergic to honest work, Pryce has devised a sleazy side hustle with his old pal, Mitts. The two stage mock confrontations at local bars, where Mitts publicly ridicules Pryce as a washed-up has-been. Inevitably, someone takes pity and challenges Pryce to a match, betting money on him. Pryce intentionally loses, and Mitts pockets the winnings—which, of course, he splits with Pryce.
But what started out as a cheeky hustle is now hitting a bit too close to the bone. The bar crowd's laughter, the humiliating digs, and the way Mitts casually tosses Pryce’s downfall around for entertainment—it’s all begun to rot Pryce from the inside. The joke is no longer funny, and Pryce is starting to choke on the taste of his own failure.
Santi Wheeler - A New Hope
But life throws Pryce a surprise in the form of Santi Wheeler, a teenager with the kind of natural golf talent that makes even pros do a double take. Pryce is captivated. Watching Santi is like staring into a mirror from 20 years ago—except Santi still has the one thing Pryce lost: potential.
Digging deeper, Pryce learns that Santi was once a rising junior champion trained by his father—until the man suddenly disappeared, leaving both Santi and his mother Elena in the dust. Since then, the kid hasn’t touched a professional course. The wounds are too deep, the abandonment too raw.
And just like that, Pryce finds his new purpose. He’s not just going to coach Santi—he’s going to redeem himself through the boy’s success.
Daddy Issues Run Deep
Elena, however, is no fool. She sees through Pryce’s charming facade and hits him with a non-negotiable: if he wants to train Santi and take him to tournaments, he needs to prove he’s serious, that proof comes with a price tag—$100,000 plus travel and tournament expenses. It’s a deliberately outrageous demand, a test Pryce isn’t expected to pass.
But Pryce isn’t walking away. He goes back to Amber-Linn and agrees to sign the house papers—on the condition she ups her offer from $75k. He shows her a clip of Santi playing and talks about the boy with a passion she hasn’t seen in him since their son died. Surprisingly, she agrees. For the first time in years, Pryce seems alive again.
With money in hand and a fire lit under him, Pryce convinces Mitts to join them on the road. Despite Mitts’ initial reluctance, he signs on, and just like that, a new oddball team is formed.
A False Start, A Fractured Bond
Just as they’re about to leave, Pryce is arrested—of all things—for unpaid parking tickets. The incident almost derails everything, pushing Elena to reconsider entrusting her son to this unstable man. But Santi, sensing that this might be their one shot, convinces her to take the leap.
The group finally arrives at the Sparkling Meadows Country Club, where Santi is scheduled to play his first tournament. The plan is simple - no pressure, get a feel for the competitive scene again.
But Pryce can’t help himself. Behind everyone’s back, he makes a bet on Santi’s performance, hoping to cash in while also proving to himself—and maybe the world—that he still has an eye for talent.
The problem? Santi starts to struggle on the course. Rather than encourage the boy, Pryce lashes out, unloading his own frustrations in a toxic burst of tough love. His harsh words strike a nerve, dragging up the ghost of Santi’s absent father. The teen storms off mid-round, fuming and hurt.
A Much-Needed Reset
While wandering away from the chaos, Santi encounters Zero, a rebellious former employee of the club who just quit earlier that day. Free-spirited and refreshingly blunt, she cuts through the noise and tells Santi exactly what he needs to hear: forget everyone else, play your game.
Inspired by her confidence in him, Santi returns to the course with a new mindset. He drowns out Pryce’s voice, focuses inward—and the result is electric. He dominates the back nine, turning in a stunning performance that leaves the crowd stunned.
He wins. And while everyone celebrates, Pryce—who won a couple grand on the side—tries to patch things up with Santi. But the boy walks right past him, joining Zero to celebrate, ignoring his so-called coach. Pryce is left in the shadows, more confused than triumphant.
Mitts and Elena: An Unexpected Truce
Back at the RV, Mitts manages to get himself stuck under the bed—yes, literally. It’s a ridiculous scene, but it forces him into an unexpected moment of vulnerability. He calls out to Elena for help. As she tries to pull him free, they share a surprisingly honest conversation.
Elena makes a deal: if Mitts wants this crazy arrangement to work, he needs to stop being a grump and treat her and Santi with decency. They can’t rely on Pryce to be the glue holding this team together—someone else will have to be the adult in the room. Begrudgingly, Mitts agrees.
Final Thoughts: What’s Next?
“Daddy Issues” is less about golf and more about the emotional bunkers its characters keep falling into. Pryce is trying to be the father figure he failed to be for his own son. Santi is navigating the weight of paternal abandonment. Elena is trying to hold things together for her child, while Mitts slowly realizes he might still have something to offer beyond sarcasm.
The emotional stakes are rising. The team is together, but fractured. As Stick continues, one thing becomes clear: this isn’t just redemption for Pryce Cahill. It’s a story about how people heal through each other—and how sometimes, the hardest swing to make is the one at your own ego.
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