Steve Stricker and Paul Skenes Celebrate Brilliance of Boring with PNC Bank

PNC Bank has launched its latest creative work with agency of record Arnold, to bring its 'Brilliantly Boring' philosophy to the PNC Championship, a family-focused golf tournament pairing professional players across generations.

The multi-year 'Boring Before Brilliance' series spotlights the unseen, disciplined actions behind great performance in sports. PNC Bank has partnered with three athletes who embody this philosophy: Steve Stricker (professional golfer), Paul Skenes (starting pitcher), and Scott Dixon (Indycar driver), each exemplifying preparation and focus.

Just ahead of the tournament weekend, PNC brought two of the three athletes, Steve and Paul, together for a golf lesson to further emphasise the idea of how thoughtful, consistent decisions drive extraordinary outcomes. Steve coached Paul through challenging golf scenarios, including sand traps, obstructed shots, buried balls, and water hazards. The filming captured the patience, technique, and problem-solving required to succeed. Paul shared how similar strategies guide him on the baseball mound, revealing how logical decisions translate across sports.

“Often, sports are about dealing with curveballs, getting out of jams, and not compounding a mistake with another one,” said James Bray, executive creative director at Arnold. “In celebration of the PNC Championship, we let two premier athletes talk about how the ‘Brilliantly Boring’ mindset plays out in action, and why steady, thoughtful choices can make all the difference.”

One national broadcast feature highlighted Paul’s progress through these 'boring' but effective approaches, across NBC and Golf Channel.