Ace Hardware Sponsors Pro Golfer Hunter Mahan

One co-op will be hitting the links on the PGA Tour this season.

Ace Hardware Corp. announced a multi-year sponsorship with PGA Tour star Hunter Mahan. The sponsorship marks the first time the company has sponsored an active professional athlete and secures Ace as Mahan’s exclusive home improvement retailing sponsor.

Ace’s sponsorship of Mahan will include his appearance in the brand’s 2015 “Golf Swing Away” television advertising spot, which will begin airing in April to promote Ace’s Free Store Pickup program. The program also launches nationally that month at participating Ace stores, according to a press release by Ace Hardware.

The spot will air on more than 30 cable networks including ESPN, USA, TLC and HGTV, as well as during select golf-related broadcasts. Additionally, Mahan will wear the Ace logo on his golf apparel during professional competitions and tournaments throughout the duration of the sponsorship.

“Hunter is not only a standout player on the tour, but a standout person and family man, as well. He matches the qualities of our brand and our retailers, so our partnership is a perfect fit,” says Jeff Gooding, senior director of consumer marketing for Ace Hardware Corp. “Forging a relationship with one of the world’s top-ranked golf professionals will help Ace leverage the sport that our core customer is most invested in and will allow us to extend our award-winning helpful brand promise to this important audience.”

Mahan, a six-time winner on the PGA Tour, claimed his first professional victory in 2007 at the Travelers Championship. He has been a member of four U.S. Presidents Cup teams and three U.S. Ryder Cup teams. His most recent victory came this past August at The Barclay’s when he won the first event in the 2014 FedExCup playoffs.

“I’m humbled by the opportunity to partner with Ace Hardware and represent their brand and stores each week on the PGA tour,” Mahan says in a press release. “Growing up I always loved visiting my neighborhood Ace with my dad, and to this day, I’m still impressed with the helpful folks at Ace who put their customers first. I’m proud to be the newest member of their team.”

To learn more about Ace Hardware, click here.

For more information on Hunter Mahan, click here.