Harmeet Kahlon at the Aamby Valley Golf Club on Wednesday. (AFP)

Calcutta: Country’s top golfers will get a chance to improve further their amazing record at home when they tee up for the $400,000 inaugural Aamby Valley Asian Masters in Lonavla on Thursday.

According to a press release, Harmeet Kahlon is looking to add to that, as are many others like Gaurav Ghei, Vijay Kumar and Firoz Ali. Ali Sher, who won the 1991 and 1993 Indian Open, is also in the fray.

Indians have always been successful on Indian courses. Since 1998, they have won nine of the 14 Asian Tour events on home soil.

Kahlon, regular on the Asian Tour, seemed happy after his first experience at the Aamby Valley Golf Course.

“I’m happy to be here. Tuesday was my first round and I feel proud to see a course like this in India. It’s a great challenge, so picturesque and in great condition. To put up a $400,000 event is great for Indian golf and the Asian Tour. As for the course, the rough is pretty high and the lies are undulating. I think it’ll be a real challenge.”

Firoz, who won in 1998 and since then has off and on played on Asian Tour events outside India, has always done well in the Asian Tour events in India.

“Right now I feel I am in great shape and can pull it off. It is an open field and I have just won two events recently on Indian tour,” said Feroz, was tied 13th at the same course, when it hosted the Aamby Valley Indian PGA Championships last June.

Winner of the only pro event at the Aamby Valley, Vijay Kumar, was equally confident. Amandeep Johl, ranked 17th on the Asian Tour Order of Merit, is hoping to build on his third place finish at the Maekyung Open a fortnight ago.

SSP Chowrasia, who has a lovely swing and a very solid chip and putt style, could well be one of the dark horses.

Tied second last year at the domestic event on this course, Chowrasia has two wins this year. Ghei, sixth last year at the domestic event, said an Indian’s victory would “open a lot of doors and opportunities.”

On the international front, Terry Pilkadaris is looking to add to his three wins, while another Australian Jarrod Moseley, the forgotten man in golf, hopes to resuscitate his career with a win.