Golf: Lee poised for major win

Danny Lee has a huge year ahead and plenty of potential to leave his mark on a major tournament this season. He is pictured playing at the Presidents Cup last October.

I still remember the day a schoolmate burst into class at Taieri College and announced "Michael Campbell has just won the US Open".

While I didn't realise the weight of what had just happenedas I sat there in art class, I've since come to appreciate that huge achievement in 2005 which saw Campbell become the second Kiwi in history to win a golf major.

Since then, golf fans in New Zealand have had to pinch themselves with the rise of young superstar Lydia Ko, who has taken the world by storm in the women's game.

However, no Kiwi golfer in the men's game has been able to replicate - or come close to replicating - Campbell's success at a major.

In steps our best hope, Danny Lee.

The Rotorua product has already booked his place at three of the four golf majors on the calendar in 2016.

Lee also has his duties on the PGA Tour to tend to this year, plus the Olympics in August, but it's his potential at the major tournaments that really has me excited.

At 25, Lee is still young and has shown how good he can be against the best golfers in the world.

During his latest and best season, in 2015, he won his first event on the PGA Tour then followed that up with plenty of top-10 finishes, moving him into the world's top 50.

If he can keep his good performances through this year and beyond, we could see him become a regular at major tournaments for years to come.

Heading into 2016, PGATour.com even picked him as one of their top 30 players to watch out for, ranking him at No18, close to Adam Scott (15) and Branden Grace (17).

I for one can't wait to see another Kiwi, like Ko and Campbell, making their mark on a golf major and believe Lee has the goods.

I just hope that if and when Lee is in contention during the fourth day of a major, I'll be watching.

Fact file:

* Danny Lee

* Age: 25

* Current tour: PGA Tour

* Wins on PGA Tour: One

* Majors qualified for in 2016: Masters (April), US Open (June), British Open (July)

* Current world ranking: 47th

* Prize money last season: US$3,965,933 ($5,792,340)