World number three Martin Kaymer admits it took him some time to adjust to his new-found fame in the aftermath of victory at last year's USPGA Championship.
The German, who defends his title this week at the Atlanta Athletic Club, bagged his maiden major title in a play-off with Bubba Watson 12 months ago.
And that win made him the face of golf in his homeland, a role last held by two-time Masters champion Bernhard Langer a generation ago.
"I was very surprised how famous I became, especially in my country, and it is just a thing that you need to get used to," Kaymer said.
"At the beginning, it's a lot it take in and a lot to handle, but after a while, if you talk to people who have been in that situation before, to other celebrities or other athletes, it's a little bit easier to act the right way."
Kaymer spoke with some footballers, who still ring him seeking golf advice, and to his manager, who had once worked with world heavyweight boxing champions Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko, the German-based Ukrainian superstars.
"I didn't talk to Bernhard (Langer) about it because obviously when he was very successful when he won the majors in the '80s, golf was not as big in Germany as it is now," Kaymer added.
"It's a new role that I have to get used to, to be that German golf face. We created kind of like a golf boom in Germany kind of like what happened with Boris Becker and Steffi Graf, what they did with tennis.
"I hope that I can do that. It's something I never really thought about. I was always thinking about my golf, my goals in life. I'm more than happy to accept it, because I always wanted it, to make golf bigger in Germany.
"It's just something that will take some time."
The German, who defends his title this week at the Atlanta Athletic Club, bagged his maiden major title in a play-off with Bubba Watson 12 months ago.
And that win made him the face of golf in his homeland, a role last held by two-time Masters champion Bernhard Langer a generation ago.
"I was very surprised how famous I became, especially in my country, and it is just a thing that you need to get used to," Kaymer said.
"At the beginning, it's a lot it take in and a lot to handle, but after a while, if you talk to people who have been in that situation before, to other celebrities or other athletes, it's a little bit easier to act the right way."
Kaymer spoke with some footballers, who still ring him seeking golf advice, and to his manager, who had once worked with world heavyweight boxing champions Wladimir and Vitali Klitschko, the German-based Ukrainian superstars.
"I didn't talk to Bernhard (Langer) about it because obviously when he was very successful when he won the majors in the '80s, golf was not as big in Germany as it is now," Kaymer added.
"It's a new role that I have to get used to, to be that German golf face. We created kind of like a golf boom in Germany kind of like what happened with Boris Becker and Steffi Graf, what they did with tennis.
"I hope that I can do that. It's something I never really thought about. I was always thinking about my golf, my goals in life. I'm more than happy to accept it, because I always wanted it, to make golf bigger in Germany.
"It's just something that will take some time."