Darren Clarke will donate any winnings to his golf foundation

The Ulster duo will tee up for the Northern Ireland Masters at Clandeboye from 11-14 September.

The tournament will be promoted by International Sports Management in association with the Northern Ireland Events Company and will carry a total prize fund of �150,000.

The inclusion of Clarke and McDowell, the two leading Northern Ireland golfers and both winners on the European Tour, will enhance the standing of the tournament.

In Clarke's case all prize money he wins at the event will be donated to the Darren Clarke Foundation, a major initiative for the development of junior golf in Ireland.

It will be great to play competitively in Northern Ireland again after a gap of 10 years Darren Clarke

''I've never played in a Challenge Tour event and I'm delighted to confirm my participation in the Northern Ireland Masters,'' said Clarke.

''It's the first time that Northern Ireland has hosted a Challenge Tour event. It will be great to play competitively in Northern Ireland again after a gap of 10 years. My last tournament was the Ulster PGA Championship.

''I launched my Foundation to encourage children in Ireland to play golf and any winnings from the event at Clandeboye will go towards it.''

Mervyn Elder, chairman of the Northern Ireland Events Company, who is also bringing a ladies European tour event to Warrenpoint in August, said they were only too glad to help.

''The role of the Events Company is to support major events which enable us to promote all that is best in Northern Ireland,'' he said.

Graeme McDowell won the Scandinavian Masters last August

''The Challenge Tour event will allow us to project very positive images of Northern Ireland across the worldwide media.

''It will enhance our reputation both as a top class location for major international events and as a superb destination for golf tourism.''

Clandeboye is a 36-hole inland complex near the seaside resort of Bangor 12 miles from Belfast.

Built in 1933 to a William Renwick Robinson design, the original Clandeboye course played host to all the major Irish championships.

In the early 1970's the layout of the Dufferin Course was re-designed by German architect Baron Von Limburger in association with Peter Alliss and Dave Thomas.