Swedish pair Carl Pettersson and Henrik Stenson have been invited to make their US Masters debuts later this year.

Pettersson and Stenson will line up alongside 28 other European Tour players in the first major of the season at Augusta from April 6th-9th, the European Tour confirmed on its official website.

The 28-year-old Pettersson ended his 2005 campaign on the PGA Tour in style with a win and a runners-up finish in his last two starts. The Swede won the Chrysler Championship in Tampa by one stroke to add to his 2002 Algarve Open victory on the European Tour. He was also tied second in the Southern Farm Bureau Classic.

Stenson, 29, twice a winner in Europe, finished eighth on last year's order of merit and was runner-up to American Chris DiMarco at the inaugural Abu Dhabi Golf Championship which ended yesterday.

One of the highlights of Stenson's 2005 season was his joint third place finish behind winner Tiger Woods and John Daly at the WGC-American Express Championship in September.

Padraig Harrington (17th), Darren Clarke (18th) and Paul McGinley (20th) have all secure their place in the elite field by virtue of their high world rankings.

However, the situation is more complicated for Graeme McDowell. The Ulsterman had hoped to remain in the world’s top 50, and therefore qualify automatically, but considering he has slipped to 59th, McDowell will need to excel in forthcoming events on both the European and USPGA tours.

Italy's Edoardo Molinari, who last year became the first European to win the US Amateur Championship since 1911, will also be making his Masters debut. Donegal’s Brian McElhinney will also tee it up at Augusta after winning the 2005 British Amateur Championship.

Among the other Europeans in action at Augusta are last year's order of merit winner Colin Montgomerie and former Masters champions Severiano Ballesteros, Nick Faldo, Bernhard Langer, Sandy Lyle and Ian Woosnam.

Woods will be defending the title after claiming his third Green Jacket last year.