Ace Hardware goes on tour with golfer Hunter Mahan

Ace Hardware Corp. is heading out on tour this spring with its first-ever athlete sponsorship.

The Oak Brook-based hardware cooperative is sponsoring PGA Tour player Hunter Mahan, a six-time winner. Ace said Wednesday it is the company’s first sponsorship of an active professional athlete.

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 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,” said Jeff Gooding, Ace Hardware’s senior director of consumer marketing.

Mahan’s first professional victory came at the 2007 Travelers Championship. He has been a member of four U.S. President’s Cup teams and three U.S. Ryder Cup teams.