Major Struggles: Kiwi golf's record since Cambo's 05 triumph

Success on the biggest stage has been hard to come by for New Zealand golf since Michael Campbell won the US Open in 2005. Photo / Getty

For the first time in nearly a decade, New Zealand possesses a golfer who can be thought of as a real chance to be in the upper echelons of a major tournament leaderboard.

Danny Lee's recent success has given Kiwi golf fans the gift of a rare PGA Tour title, and now New Zealand golf will have a chance to have several uninspiring streaks snapped when he joins Ryan Fox in taking on St Andrews in the Open Championship starting tomorrow night.

Ever since Michael Campbell famously took home the US Open in 2005, success has been hard to come by on the biggest stage for New Zealand golfers - which can be somewhat expected, due to the usual caveats of population and funding.

In fact, since Campbell wrapped up his magical 2005 with a tie for fifth at the Open Championship and a tie for sixth at the PGA, a New Zealander has only cracked the top 20 in a major on one occasion - Steven Alker at the 2012 Open Championship.

With Lee's recent triumph at the Greenbrier Classic being followed by a third place at the John Deere Classic, he becomes one of the form golfers heading into the third major of the year - admittedly a label which means little considering the vast differences in climate and course layout that St Andrews will provide.

Additionally, the promising Fox will join Lee to make it a Kiwi duo at the Open Championship, only the second time in the last six years that two New Zealanders will take part in a major.

The twosome don't have any pressure to perform, with New Zealand golf's performance at major tournaments over the past decade being a mixture of missed cuts and mid-pack finishes.

Here's a detailed record of Kiwi performances at Majors since Campbell triumphed in 2005, with added frivolous commentary.

Since Michael Campbell won....

2005 Open Championship - David Smail T67, Michael Campbell T5
2005 PGA - Campbell T6

Frivolous comment #1: Not enough is made of Campbell's 2005 - finishing in the top six at three consecutive majors is absolutely stunning, especially considering he never managed to finish higher than 35th ever again. It reads as one of golf's true outliers - with his downfall a testament to golf's cruel vagaries.

Add in a third at the Johnnie Walker Classic, fourth at the Dunlop Masters, eighth at the BMW Championship, second at the Volkswagen Masters and a win at the HSBC World Match Play Champs and you have a season which can only be matched by Bob Charles' 1963 and 1968 campaigns.

Lydia Ko has accomplished some remarkable things in her short career to date, but it will take something extraordinary to beat Campbell's 2005 run.

2006 Masters - Campbell missed cut (MC)
2006 US Open - Phil Tataurangi MC, Campbell MC

Frivolous comment #2: This was to be Tataurangi's last major appearance, having made the cut at both the Masters and PGA Championship in 2003.

2006 Open Championship - Smail MC, Campbell T35
2006 PGA - Campbell MC
2007 Masters - Campbell MC
2007 US Open - Richard Lee WD, Campbell T58

Frivolous comment #3: Yes, apparently Richard Lee made a major tournament. No, I don't remember it either. Anyway, he withdrew after a first-round 79.

2007 Open Championship - Steven Alker MC, Campbell T57
2007 PGA - Campbell MC
2008 Masters - Campbell MC
2008 US Open - Campbell MC
2008 Open Championship - Smail MC, Campbell T51
2008 PGA - Campbell T42, Mark Brown T24

Frivolous comment #4: This, sadly, was the last time Campbell made the cut at a major, and also the last time two New Zealanders made the weekend.

2009 Masters - Campbell MC, Danny Lee MC
2009 US Open - Campbell MC, Doug Batty MC, Smail MC

Frivolous comment #5: Doug Batty! Doug Batty!! I had forgotten all about his magical appearance at the 2009 US Open - an appearance which saw him shoot consecutive rounds of 74, finishing ahead of Justin Rose, Matt Kuchar, Paul Casey, Padraig Harrington and Ernie Els.

His other main claim to fame? Rocking a legendary bucket hat.

Doug Batty's bucket hat was a big hit.

Someone needs to bring back the bucket hat. Looking at you, Ryan Fox.

2009 Open Championship - Campbell WD, Smail MC, Brown MC, Josh Geary MC

Frivolous comment #6: Not sure whether the 2009 Open Championship was a success or a failure for New Zealand golf. After all, there were four Kiwi representatives, but all missed the cut.

2009 PGA - Campbell MC, Smail T67
2010 Masters - Campbell MC
2010 US Open - Campbell MC
2010 Open Championship - Nobody
2010 PGA - Nobody
2011 Masters - Nobody
2011 US Open - Campbell MC
2011 Open Championship - Nobody
2011 PGA - Nobody
2012 Masters - Nobody
2012 US Open - Campbell MC

Frivolous comment #7: From 2009 to mid-2012, the best finish for a Kiwi at a major was David Smail's tie for 67th. Very grim times.

2012 Open Championship - Alker T19

Frivolous comment #8: The best performance by a New Zealander since 2005, Alker strung together rounds of 69, 69, 72 and 71 in an excellent effort.

2012 PGA - Nobody
2013 Masters - Nobody
2013 US Open - Campbell MC, Alker T45
2013 Open Championship - Brown T44
2013 PGA - Nobody
2014 Masters - Nobody
2014 US Open - Alker MC
2014 Open Championship - Nobody
2014 PGA - Nobody
2015 Masters - Nobody
2015 US Open - Danny Lee MC

Can Lee or Fox become the first Kiwi to make the cut at a major in two years? And could they go even better and snare an elusive top 20 finish? Will someone rock the Batty bucket hat?

All are questions I can't wait to be answered at St Andrews starting tomorrow night.