Andrew Johnston admits he needs to find the right balance between embracing his cult status and producing the kind of golf which initially made him famous.

Johnston hit the headlines in April by winning his first European Tour title in the Spanish Open and admitting he could not wait to get home afterwards to "get hammered" with friends and family.

The 27-year-old Londoner has since become better known by his nickname "Beef" and has exploited being flavour of the month by signing an endorsement deal with fast food chain Arby's.

But the world number 88, who finished eighth in the Open at Royal Troon, insists he wants to remain famous for his exploits on the course rather than his facial hair and popularity with spectators.

"It might come across like that to some people, but as I've said before, it's all about the golf," Johnston said ahead of his US PGA Championship debut at Baltusrol tomorrow. "First thing's first is the golf. That's what I grew up doing. That's what I grew up watching and where I wanted to be.

"So now I'm here, it's like I want to keep pushing forward and the most important thing is the golf before anything else.

"I want to come away and look back in so many years and think, yeah, that's been a great time on the golf course. And not going, oh yeah, it was good for that period of time, but we had a good laugh."

Johnston was still able to enjoy a laugh with a group of fans who turned up dressed as him on Tuesday, although he was quick to point out their fake ginger beards were the wrong colour.

But he has come to realise that interacting with spectators might have to be limited to when he is not trying to prepare for tournaments.

"I love the support and I love trying to give back my time," he added. "I actually had a big learning curve yesterday where I played a few holes and I was signing so much; I probably shouldn't have done as much on the course and then waited till after.

"It was like the first real time where I've had that much attention and I came off the course and I was like, 'That was crazy. That was mad'.

"It's just a thing of trying to get the right timing to spend time with all the fans, because I love it and it means so much to me. But at the same time, you've got to get your practice in, as well."