Steve Stricker Stars in PNC Bank’s ‘Boring Before Brilliance’ Short Film from Arnold Worldwide
PNC Bank just launched a new spot as part of its “Boring Before Brilliance” film series — this time, starring golf champion Steve Stricker. Helmed by advertising agency Arnold Worldwide, the five-minute docu-style short film dives into Stricker’s life as a golfer who competed in the PNC Championship 2024.
Beyond his achievement in the sport, the film also takes viewers into the “boring” and mundane aspects of the two-time Comeback Player of the Year awardee’s practices that have been left unseen by the public. Reinforcing the themes of the campaign, Stricker explained in a statement that if someone calls him or his game boring, he wouldn’t take it negatively.
“It proved to work for me. And boring can transition very quickly into brilliant,” he added.
The short film serves as the second installation of the “Boring Before Brilliance” series, which aims to highlight the normal practices of extraordinary athletes, artists, and musicians.
Notably, the first installation featured IndyCar racer Scott Dixon.
Overall, the brand’s “Brilliantly Boring” philosophy is a show of its dedication to offering superb banking results and outcomes for its consumers without the need for flashy deals that do nothing in the long run. By shining the spotlight on the “boring,” PNC Bank shows viewers that mundanity can lead to greatness, a theme that reflects the finance giant’s brand identity.
Sticking With the ‘Boring’
The five-minute film starts off with Stricker on the golf course, explaining to the viewers the challenge of making a par with a wedge, with the hole 308 yards away. He then describes the technicalities of his golfing and his strengths in the short game, which led him to take multiple shots.
His wife Nikki and stepdad Dennis analyze Stricker’s playstyle, providing commentary on his game.
The golf champion then dives into his accolades, winning twice in 1996, and his challenges competing against Tiger Woods the following year. This heavily affected his confidence, causing him to hit “rock bottom” in the succeeding years.
At the brink of giving up, Stricker mustered up the confidence to try again and master his short game through repetitive exercises, which eventually skyrocketed his global golf rankings from #324 to #4 in 2006. “Boring can transition very quickly into brilliant,” he says, finally finding the drive to win again, closing the spot.
But it hasn’t been all about the “boring” for PNC Bank. Previously, the bank and agency poked fun at “finance bros” in two hilarious commercials.
