'At least I'm alive'

She might be tough, but Feng also knows how to have fun－and typically celebrates victory with a hearty meal, a spot of karaoke or a shopping spree, preferably on handbags.

She is frequently described as having the best sense of humor in women's golf, but she is less comfortable with one other tag often attached to her.

"I always tell the media that I don't think I'm a pioneer, I think I'm a guinea pig," she said after climbing to the top ranking.

"Before me there was nobody (from China) on the LPGA Tour and actually experiencing tour life.

"So I do think that I'm a guinea pig, but I'm kind of a successful guinea pig. At least I'm still alive!"

In her rookie year Feng thought that she would play 10 LPGA seasons and then retire, but 2018 will be her 11th and she says－in fluent English－that "I'll be here for a few more years".

Feng hails from the southern city of Guangzhou and names Gilchrist and her father, Feng Xiong, as major influences since taking up the game at age 10, when golf was still a mystery to most Chinese.

After bringing home bronze from Rio two years ago, she wants to win gold at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics to add to her near $10 million in LPGA career earnings and nine tour titles.

Hunger to win

Feng was the fifth women's No 1 of last year but veteran sportswriter Spencer Robinson, who has closely followed her career, said she has the self-belief to stay at the top in 2018.

"Shanshan just loves playing golf－and winning," Robinson, also chief communications officer at the Asian Golf Industry Federation, said ahead of the first LPGA event of the year, which tees off in the Bahamas on Friday.

"Given the natural talent she possesses, as long as she maintains that attitude and desire, she'll remain at the top of the game," added Robinson, who believes Feng will add to her tally of major wins in the coming years.

Another major is Feng's stated goal for 2018.

"Nothing fazes her," said Robinson. "Any time she has a bad break, Shanshan has this admirable ability to block it out and bounce back immediately."

AFP