She was delighted to cap a breakthrough year by claiming the world No. 1 ranking in November, but China's Feng Shanshan is unfazed by the additional scrutiny that comes with the coveted status.
Instead, the affable golfer is simply enjoying life at the top.
"Becoming No. 1 has really given me a lot of confidence but at the same time I'm not giving myself higher expectations or more pressure," said Feng in a conference call yesterday ahead of next month's HSBC Women's World Championship.
"I'm still in my off-season mode now and I'm not going to think too much about the No. 1 thing. I can only control my preparation, not what the others are doing."
The 28-year-old Guangzhou native is the first Chinese golfer, male or female, to climb to the summit of the world rankings.
In trademark laid-back fashion, Feng joked that she had clinched the top spot at the right moment, at the end of last year's LPGA Tour campaign which saw her capture a Tour-leading three titles.
"It was perfect timing because there was only one week to go (for the season) and then it was the off-season and I got to stay there without doing anything. So I was really happy about that," said Feng, who is into her 13th week leading the rankings.
She opened her season with a tied-third finish at last month's Pure Silk LPGA Classic in the Bahamas and will next compete at the Feb 22-25 Honda LPGA Thailand before travelling to play at Singapore's Sentosa Golf Club.
Feng's best result in the Republic was runner-up in 2012, when the HSBC event was held at the Tanah Merah Country Club.
She was the fifth woman to hold the No. 1 ranking last term, after New Zealand's Lydia Ko, fellow Thai Ariya Jutanugarn and South Koreans Ryu So Yeon and Park Sung Hyun. Park's reign lasted one week before Feng overtook her.
All will feature on the Sentosa's New Tanjong course for the March 1-4 tournament, with Park and Ryu, both Major winners last year and currently second and third in the rankings respectively, seeking to extend South Korea's dominance at the US$1.5 million (S$1.96 million) competition.
Former world No. 1 Park In Bee won last year and in 2015 and compatriot Jang Ha Na triumphed in 2016.
Feng, who has nine LPGA career wins including the 2012 LPGA Championship, acknowledged the strength of the field but said she was not unduly concerned about having a target on her back.
"There are a lot of good players out there and even though my ranking is better than the others now, it doesn't mean I'm the best player on the planet," she said.
"(But) 15 under is my goal for the week so if I can achieve that it doesn't matter what position I end up with.
"I'm not going to go out and try to shoot 25 under (just because I'm No. 1), that's just not me.
"I wasn't sure about my game before I went to the Bahamas but it was windy there and that really helped me because I know how to play in the wind."
Accuracy with her irons has always been Feng's strength. She was 97th in driving distance (249.892 yards) last year but fifth in greens in regulation (76.2 per cent).
And while she did not win any of the year-end individual awards, Feng's focus is on tournament trophies.
She said: "It's the beginning of the year and my ball striking is not quite there yet. But the course at Sentosa should be one that really fits me so I'm looking forward to coming to Singapore."
