Harrington is eager to play the new course at Celtic Manor

Ryder Cup stars Darren Clarke, David Howell and Paul McGinley will join Open champion Padraig Harrington at this year's �1.8m Celtic Manor Wales Open.

The quartet that helped guide Europe to victory at the K Club in 2006 will star at the event, which starts on Thursday.

PGA Championship winner Miguel Angel Jimenez, Colin Montgomerie, Robert Karlsson and Nick Dougherty also start.

It will be the first time Celtic Manor's 2010 Ryder Cup course - the Twenty Ten - will stage an event.

The course is a par 71 featuring nine brand-new holes along the floor of the Usk Valley, as well as nine holes from the former Wentwood Hills.

Ireland's Harrington controversially opted out of the PGA Championship at Wentworth last week - the European Tour's flagship.

It is in many ways a US-style golf course, a stadium golf course, that will be played in European conditions Padraig Harrington

But he believes the Wales Open, an event he has never played in before, fits better into his preparations for the US Open in a fortnight's time and gives him an early look at the course that will be used for the 2010 Ryder Cup.

"This fits into my schedule. That's first and foremost," he said. "It takes me two tournaments to get sharp and get focused before a major.

"I hear [the course] should provide a great challenge which will hopefully suit my game and provide good preparation for the tough conditions we can expect at the US Open.

"It is in many ways a US-style golf course, a stadium golf course, that will be played in European conditions.

"I'm sure the fans in Wales will give me a special Celtic welcome and I hope to give them something to cheer about in return."

Northern Ireland's Clarke is bidding for his sixth Ryder Cup appearance at Valhalla this September and he has also added the Wales Open to his schedule as he bids to make Nick Faldo's team.

McGinley is a past Wales Open champion, winning the tournament in 2001, while Englishman Howell finished runner-up to inaugural Celtic Manor winner Steen Tinning eight years ago.

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The Welsh challenge will be led by Bradley Dredge, World Cup-winning partner Stephen Dodd and 2002 Ryder Cup hero Phil Price.

Garry Houston, Sion Bebb, Jamie Donaldson, Stuart Manley, David Park, Rhys Davies and Craig Smith have also confirmed they will play at their home tournament.

"The Wales Open is one of the highlights of my year," Dredge said.

"It's always great fun to play in, with the way we are looked after here and all the support that we home players receive from the fans.

"It was great to be in such strong contention last year and an absolute thrill to be leading the tournament during the final round. Hopefully, I can finish the job this year."

Wentworth runner-up Oliver Wilson is also in the field, alongside 20-year-old Yorkshireman Danny Willett, who will make his debut as a professional after reaching the number one spot in the world amateur rankings.