Ace Hardware and the PGA Tour have inked an agreement that designates the retailer as the “Official Hardware Store of the PGA Tour and Champions Tour.”The PGA Tour is a membership organization for touring professional golfers that co-sanctions more than 130 tournaments worldwide. The multiyear marketing agreement includes plans for Ace to work closely with the PGA Tour on a program where PGA tournament planners will have the opportunity to purchase products for various tours through the hardware retailer. “A large part of the PGA Tour’s business, including the preparation and operation of tournaments and the daily operation and maintenance of our Tournament Players Club facilities, ties directly to Ace’s expertise in providing quality products and helpful service," said Tom Wade, PGA Tour chief commercial officer, in a media release. “Ace is excited to partner with the PGA Tour as part of our overall golf strategy that’s designed to speak to, and interact with, the core Ace Hardware customer, the golf enthusiast,” said Ace Hardware’s John Surane, executive vice president, marketing, merchandising and sales, in the release. “Just as we do with our customers that shop our 4,400 neighborhood stores across America, we’ll be helping the PGA Tour take care of their ‘homes’ — the golf courses and facilities in which they operate ...”Ace began its professional golfing relationship earlier this year, when the hardware cooperative announced its sponsorship of PGA golfer Hunter Mahan. That deal includes his appearance in a "Golf Swing Away" TV spot that began airing in April to promote Ace's free store pickup service. (See below.) In addition to the Mahan spot, the retailer will air commercials during live PGA tour telecasts on the Golf Channel and NBC Sports and during ancillary programming, according to the release. Ace will also be advertising on pgatour.com.