PGA of America, Lagardere Sports and Turner Sports Launch Documentary Series on Ryder Cup Captain Davis Love III

PALM BEACH GARDENS, Fla., July 12, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The PGA of America, Lagardère Sports and Turner Sports have joined to create a new 12-part, digital short-documentary series chronicling Davis Love III's journey as Ryder Cup Captain. The series, entitled The American Captain Presented by Mercedes-Benz, is being jointly produced by Lagardère Sports and Turner Sports and launches today on RyderCup.com—with new episodes debuting each Tuesday.

The American Captain presented by Mercedes-Benz will give golf fans an unprecedented, behind-the-scenes look at the life of a Ryder Cup Captain and the meticulous preparation required to represent the United States in golf's premier international competition. The series will follow Love through the complete journey of the team's preparations, as it looks to reclaim the Ryder Cup for the first time since 2008. It will show how key decisions about the team are made, including selecting the U.S. roster, designing the team uniforms and setting up the host course for the competition. It will also include inside access to the 2016 Ryder Cup, taking place Sept. 27–Oct. 2, at Hazeltine National Golf Club in Chaska, Minnesota.

The digital series also will be available on Turner's BleacherReport.com. Various clips highlighting the series will span PGA.com and Bleacher Report.com, as well as run natively across several social platforms, including Facebook, while utilizing the U.S. Ryder Cup Team handle: @RyderCupUSA. Turner Sports will heavily promote the content to fans within TNT's broadcast of the 2016 PGA Championship, July 28-31.

As presenting sponsor, Mercedes-Benz USA showcases its support of Captain Love and the U.S. Ryder Cup Team, as they pursue Samuel Ryder's coveted trophy. Chase Sapphire Preferred® is also a sponsor, featuring brand-specific integration and messaging for the promotion of, as well as content produced, for the series.

"The Ryder Cup is an event that brings together national pride and a team environment to the golf course in a way that creates incredible stories," said Adam Holzer, Lagardère Sports Vice President, Media – Americas. "To have the unprecedented access to Captain Love, as he orchestrates every facet of the team, will give fans the chance to get involved with the team in a way they never could have previously."

"We are proud to align with Mercedes-Benz and Chase Sapphire Preferred on this digital series that will complement the overall fan anticipation leading into the Ryder Cup," said Will Funk, executive vice president of sales and property partnerships, Turner Sports. "As we continue to think about the evolution of brand partnerships, custom-produced, scalable premium content, with a distinct distribution strategy across all platforms, is a necessity. Our goal is to generate higher fan engagement, brand recall and ROI for our partners."

Love, who is represented by Lagardere Sports' Golf Division, returns as U.S. Captain this year. He also served as Captain in 2012. Love is the 28th person to serve as U.S. Captain since the Ryder Cup began in 1927, and the eighth American to guide multiple Ryder Cup Teams. 

"It is a great honor to serve as the Captain for the United States Ryder Cup Team," said Love.  "Leading a team that represents our country is a responsibility I take very seriously. While fans become captivated by the Ryder Cup competition, I'm thrilled that this series will give them a behind-the-scenes look at all of the work that goes into one of the most exciting events in sports."

The full 12 episode schedule for The American Captain Presented by Mercedes-Benz can be seen at the following link: https://www.pga.org/articles/12-part-weekly-series-highlights-ryder-cup-captain-davis-love-iii-and-united-states-team.

About PGA of America
Celebrating its Centennial, the PGA of America represents the very best in golf. For more information about the PGA of America, visit PGA.org, follow @PGAofAmerica on Twitter and find us on Facebook.

About Lagardère Sports
Lagardère Sports is a leading sport marketing agency, with a global network of local experts dedicated to delivering innovative solutions that meet our clients' needs. We believe sport inspires emotions and passion that are essential to enrich people's lives and generate powerful collective experiences. At Lagardère Sports, we dedicate our expertise and passion to provide our clients with privileged access to the infinite opportunities of sports. Lagardère Sports is part of Lagardère Sports and Entertainment, a company with more than 1,600 employees worldwide and 50 years of experience.

About Turner Sports
Turner Sports, a division of Turner, is an industry leader in the delivery of premium sports content across all multimedia screens. Turner Sports' television coverage includes the NBA, Major League Baseball, NCAA Division I Men's Basketball Championship, ELEAGUE and professional golf.  The company also manages some of the most popular sports destinations across broadband and mobile platforms, including Bleacher Report and its top-rated Team Stream app, NCAA.com and the critically acclaimed NCAA March Madness Live suite of products, PGA.com and the Sports Emmy Award-winning PGA Championship LIVE, as well as an accompanying collection of mobile sites and connected device apps.  Turner Sports and the NBA also jointly manage NBA Digital, a robust collection of offerings including NBA TV, NBA.com, NBA LEAGUE PASS, NBA Mobile, the NBA App, NBADLEAGUE.com and WNBA.com.

About Mercedes-Benz USA
Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA), headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, is responsible for the distribution, marketing and customer service for all Mercedes-Benz products in the United States. MBUSA offers drivers the most diverse line-up in the luxury segment with 15 model lines ranging from the sporty CLA-Class four-door coupe to the flagship S-Class. MBUSA is also responsible for the distribution, marketing and customer service of Mercedes-Benz Vans and smart products in the U.S. More information on MBUSA and its products can be found at www.mbusa.com, www.mbsprinterusa.com and www.smartusa.com.

About Chase Sapphire Preferred
Chase Sapphire Preferred is a premier rewards card from Chase designed to deliver unique experiences and exceptional service.  Cardmembers have access to exclusive cardmember experiences; 2X points on travel and dining at restaurants; 1:1 point transfer to leading frequent travel programs; 24/7 direct access to a customer service specialist; no foreign transaction fees; no travel restrictions or blackout dates on airline tickets booked through Chase Ultimate Rewards and more. More information is available at www.Chase.com/Sapphire.