Mark Rolfing, a 30-year Hawai'i resident and golf commentator for NBC and The Golf Channel, will be providing insights on the U.S. Women's Open from Newport, R.I.

The 72-hole tournament starts tomorrow and features four golfers with Hawai'i ties — Michelle Wie, 16, Kimberly Kim, 14, Stephanie Kono, 16, and Ayaka Kaneko, 16.

Yesterday, Rolfing walked a practice round with Wie and Kim, who played together.

When you're 14, nothing seems to faze you.

Not even an 18-hour layover.

Not even having your clubs lost during your travel.

Such has been the saga of Kimberly Kim, a former Big Island resident now living in Mesa, Ariz.

"She teed off with Michelle (Wie) during a practice round and she's using a rental set," Rolfing said. "This rental set has 11 clubs ... has no fairway metals. And she's as happy as can be."

Because Kim advanced to Sunday's final of the Women's Amateur Public Links in Pueblo, Colo., her travel plans changed.

Her new flight included an 18-hour layover in Chicago.

Kim's clubs still hadn't arrived in Rhode Island when she walked the course and played a practice round with Wie yesterday.

Her clubs were expected to arrive last night.

Rolfing thought Kim played very well.

"What they (Kim and her caddie) did was focus on targets and get a sense of where you need to go and where not to go," he said.

After her performance in the public links, Rolfing asked Kim if she received requests to sign autographs.

"She said, 'Yes. I think it's really cool.' "

Kim told Rolfing that because she's so slow in signing, she's decided to sign her autographs as "Kim-Kim."

That also helps since there are eight Kims in this week's field.

WIE'S WORLD

Rolfing said Wie is working on two shots this week: a fade and a punch.

"She's working on working the ball left to right, because that's what this course calls for," he said. "Also, she's working on her stinger 3-wood, which is a shot Tiger Woods used to hit, which is a low-straight shot.

"It's a shot that she can really control and they (instructor David Leadbetter) both think that's a key for her."

Control will be important this week, according to Rolfing.

"You cannot put the ball in the bunker this week because of all the rains," he said.

He said some are wet, some dry, and different parts of bunkers still have casual water.

"There's a total premium to keep the ball out of the bunkers," he said.

But what everyone else is talking about, according to Rolfing, is Wie's putting.

"I talked with (father) BJ Wie at great length. It hasn't been great and they acknowledge that."

Rolfing said it's a matter of getting used to East Coast greens.

He said in Hawai'i, the bermuda grass almost always grows toward the setting sun, making judging breaks easier. East Coast greens use different grass and it grows in different directions.

But, Rolfing said, "she putted quite well today. I felt she putted better than she drove the ball."

One thing was obvious to Rolfing.

"She's the most popular player out here. Period," he said.

"She has the charisma, plus, tee to green, she hits better shots than anyone in the field. ... the sound of the ball coming off her club is completely different than anyone else they saw."

COURSE REPORT

Rolfing said the weather yesterday was sunny, though rain is forecast for tomorrow night.

The course is still wet, he said.