Ace looks to score sales as sponsor of PGA player

Ace Hardware is set to launch a “Free Store Pickup” program this April and has chosen PGA tour player Hunter Mahan to serve as pitchman for the omnichannel initiative.

The deal with six-time winner Mahan marks the first time the nation’s largest hardware cooperative has teamed with a professional athlete on an endorsement deal.

The sponsorship includes Mahan’s appearance on the company’s 2015 “Golf Swing Away” TV commercial, which will begin airing in April. The spot will promote Ace’s Free Store Pickup program, which is to launch national that same month.

"Hunter is not only a stand out player on the Tour, but a stand out person and family man as well. He matches the qualities of our brand and our retailers, so our partnership is a perfect fit," said Jeff Gooding, senior director of consumer marketing, 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 United States President's Cup teams and three United States Ryder Cup Teams. His most recent victory came this past August at The Barclay's when he captured 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 said. "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."

With more than 4,900 hardware stores locally owned and operated across the globe, Ace is the largest retailer-owned hardware cooperative in the world.