McDowell and Clarke have things to prove

Darren Clarke and Graeme McDowell are preparing to get off to a fast start in 2007.

The Ulster stars, who are managed by Chubby Chandler's ISM group, had a year to forget in 2006.

But they plan to come out all guns blazing in search of tournament wins this term with a globe-trotting schedule over the winter months.

Both badly in need of points after crashing down the world rankings last season.

McDowell lost his US PGA Tour card and slithered to 132nd in the world.

But the young Ulsterman, 27, will begin the season in the Gulf with appearances in Abu Dhabi, Qatar and Dubai before turning his attention to the US.

The Portrush ace is waiting to see if he gets invites to the Honda Classic and Tampa Bay Classic in the weeks preceding the Bay Hill Invitational.

Last term, ISM neglected to seek an invite on behalf of McDowell for the Arnold Palmer run event at Bay Hill and they will not be making the same mistake this year.

World No 37 Clarke, meanwhile, will play a mixed schedule on his return from Royal Trophy in Bangkok.

Desperate for a tournament victory, he has committed the Qatar Masters and Dubai Desert Classic before heading further east for the Maybank Malaysian Open.

He will then take a week off to prepare for the WGC-Accenture Matchplay Championship in Arizona before jetting back to Asia again for the Singapore Masters at the beginning of March.