Golf's new color

Valspar paints are in more stores than any other paint brand in North America, with products in more than 10,000 retail outlets. Despite this presence, the brand is still somewhat under the radar, according to Valspar CEO Gary Hendrickson.

That's why the $4.1 billion, Chicago-based company (symbol: VAL; recent price: $70.59) decided to sign a last-minute contract as the title sponsor of the PGA Tour event in Tampa for the next four years.

The tournament, now called the Valspar Championship, will be held March 13-16 at the Copperhead golf course at Innisbrook Golf Resort. Hendrickson says the brand exposure from the event will be invaluable for the global business, with the tournament broadcast in 225 countries and territories.