"It was the first time that golf was making an appearance at the Olympics after more than 100 years so I really wanted to qualify for it," she recalls.

"There were many young Chinese players that year. They were powerful. They were skillful. They were playing so well that I started getting stressed out.

"I reflected on what I was like when I was their age, and this was when I realized that I used to be aggressive and unafraid of making mistakes. Now, I was more concerned about maintaining my rankings and not losing out on the prize money. I was playing it too safe.

"And so I started to be aggressive again and that really helped me regain my form. I got my confidence back after winning a bronze in Rio."

Feng emerged reborn from that trying period. She has since gone on to claim five championships in just two years. But she isn't done winning - she now wants to defend her title at this month's Volvic Championships in Ann Arbor, top the podium at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, win her second major title and get inducted into the Hall of Fame.

It's an ambitious to-do list for someone who had originally intended to retire last year.

"My initial plan was to retire after 10 years in the LPGA. Last year was my 10th year but I actually managed to become world No 1, so everyone was telling me that I can't possibly retire now. I also knew that I wanted to play in the Tokyo Olympics," she says.

Feng already has plans for life after competitive action. Last June, she started a junior golf academy in Guangzhou that employs Gilchrist's coaching techniques.

In the meantime, Feng will rely on some good old-fashioned shopping therapy to keep her hungry on the course.

"I get one or two bags for myself every time I win," she laughs. "Sometimes I also buy a bag when I'm not playing well, then tell myself that I have to do well in the next competition because I need to make the money back."