Elite Multi-Day Production for PGA Tour's 2026 Presidents Cup
The PGA Tour is one of the world's premier professional golf organizations, managing high-profile tournaments and events globally. They selected Thunderlab Digital Media to execute a complex, multi-day production promoting the 2026 Presidents Cup.
The Presidents Cup is an international team golf competition bringing together the world's best players to compete for team, country, and the honor of raising the trophy. With global scale and reach since its 1994 inception, the event carries significant prestige—the 2026 captains, U.S. Team captain Brandt Snedeker and International team captain Geoff Ogilvy, are among the most respected names in the sport worldwide.
The Challenge:
A demanding three-day production schedule across multiple Chicago-area locations required:
Day 1 - Medinah Country Club
Captain interviews
Genesis car spot
Chipping and putting challenge with captains
Press junket coverage
Day 2 - Soldier Field
Charity shootout challenge for First Tee - Greater Chicago
Chicago Bears locker room tour with honorary jersey presentation
Press conference coverage
Day 3 - Barstool Sports
Podcast circuit appearances
"Running the gauntlet" content capture
The Real Challenge:
Maintaining world-class production standards across diverse locations and content types while working within tight time windows and coordinating with high-profile talent.
What We Uncovered
Beyond the stated deliverables, the PGA Tour needed:
Proactive Problem-Solving: A production partner who could identify and address potential issues before they became problems
Lean Efficiency: A small, expert crew capable of delivering high-end results without the overhead of a large production team
Field Adaptability: Split-second decision-making ability to capture content within limited time windows
Professional Polish: Commercial-quality work that reflected the prestige of the PGA Tour brand.
We identified these unspoken needs by analyzing the demanding production brief and recognizing the compressed timeline across multiple premium locations
Our Solution: Strategic Production Excellence
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Comprehensive Pre-Production Planning
During pre-production, we identified that aerial coverage wasn't explicitly requested but would be essential for establishing the prestige and scale of venues like Medinah Country Club and Soldier Field. We proactively added drone operators to days one and two.
This decision paid off immediately: while ground crews captured interviews and challenges, our drone operators simultaneously built a library of sweeping aerial establishing shots. The result was production value that elevated every edit—giving the client cinematic scope they hadn't budgeted for, delivered without extending the timeline.
Advanced Technical Capabilities
Pre-rigged the Genesis with interior cameras before sunrise so we could capture driving sequences without stopping to adjust gear mid-shoot. While one team filmed the charity shootout at Soldier Field, our drone operator was already establishing aerial shots of the stadium exterior—doubling our output without doubling our timeline or the client's stress.
Our technical arsenal included:
Multiple camera systems for simultaneous multi-angle coverage
Aerial drone cinematography for dynamic establishing shots
360-degree video cameras for immersive promotional content
Vehicle-rigged cameras for seamless automotive sequences
Professional lighting systems adapted for each location's unique challenges
Agile Field Production
The Locker Room Pivot: Mid-day at Soldier Field, the Bears locker room shoot was still uncertain—we didn't know if we'd get access at all. Then suddenly, the client confirmed: we had 15 minutes to get in, capture the jersey presentation with the captains, and get out.
Most production companies would have sent in a single camera operator with a basic setup. We made a different call: deploy a two-camera, two-sound mixer team to maximize coverage angles and audio quality in one take. No time for multiple setups, no second chances.
The result? We captured dynamic, multi-angle footage that felt cinematic rather than rushed. By the next day, we had a polished video delivered to the client—turning what could have been a throwaway B-roll moment into a standout piece of content.
The Genesis Commercial Sprint
At Medinah Country Club, we had 45 minutes total to shoot an entire Genesis automotive spot. Not 45 minutes per setup—45 minutes for everything.
While other production companies would build in half-day buffers and multiple takes "just in case," we pre-rigged the vehicle with cameras, pre-lit three strategic positions, and choreographed every shot sequence before the clock started. Our crew moved like a pit stop team—no wasted movement, no redundant setups, no "let's try one more."
The commercial was broadcast-quality. Forty-five minutes, start to finish.
This isn't about rushing—it's about eliminating inefficiency. We don't pad schedules because we're uncomfortable with precision. We engineer productions to be lean by design, not by compromise..
Results & Impact
Speed Without Compromise
Delivered commercial-quality edits within 24 hours of shooting—work that typically takes days to produce.
Navigating Tonal Extremes
Day one at Medinah Country Club required reverence—interviewing golf legends at one of the sport's most historic venues, capturing the gravitas of the Presidents Cup legacy. Our crew operated with quiet professionalism, minimal intrusion, and careful lighting that honored the space.
By day three at Barstool Sports, we were in a completely different world: loud, irreverent, chaotic energy as the captains "ran the gauntlet" through podcast recordings. Same crew, opposite energy—we matched the room, kept pace with rapid-fire content creation, and captured authentic moments in an environment that couldn't be more different from a country club.
Most production companies specialize in one tone or the other. We delivered both, seamlessly, within 72 hours.
The Thunderlab Difference
Precision Under Pressure, Ease Above All
Our reputation is on the line with every frame—but we never let the captains feel that pressure. Between takes, we kept Snedeker and Ogilvy relaxed with informal conversation, treating them like collaborators rather than subjects to be directed.
When technical difficulties hit during the virtual press conference livestream, the crew maintained complete composure. No visible panic, no frantic energy—just quiet adjustments that kept everything on track. The captains stayed comfortable. The client stayed confident.
This is the paradox that defines Thunderlab: We treat every project like our reputation depends on it (because it does), while making the experience feel effortless for everyone involved.
Why it Matters
The PGA Tour doesn't just need video production—they need a partner who can operate at the intersection of speed, prestige, and adaptability. When you're promoting a global sporting event with legendary captains, there's no room for "we'll fix it in post" or "let's do another take tomorrow."
We delivered that certainty: broadcast-quality edits within 24 hours, cinematic production value on compressed timelines, and the flexibility to navigate from country club reverence to Barstool chaos without missing a beat.
