EVERGREEN, Colo. — Kimberly Kim shocked the golf world last August by winning the U.S. Women's Amateur as a 14-year-old.

Though it changed the public perception of her — basically, more people became aware of her talent — it didn't really affect how she approaches her life and her game.

Now 15, Kim still practices hard, still has the kind of game that allows her to shoot low numbers and still spends her summers living out of a suitcase.

"It's not always easy," says Kim, who's from the Big Island, but spends most of her time in Arizona with her mother for golf reasons. "Sometimes it's hard to figure out where you are when you wake up in the morning."

Life on the road can be tough, but it's the way of the junior golfer — to be on the top you need talent, perseverance and a packed suitcase.

And Kim fits that bill perfectly; she's been traveling the country to tournaments for a few years, and her win at the U.S. Amateur isn't going to change that.

The way Young Soo Kim sees it, the only way for his daughter to get better is to face the best players. To do that, you need to travel to all the top tournaments, which can be grueling since they're spread from coast to coast.

Kim and Sacred Hearts Academy student Ayaka Kaneko will compete in the AJGA Rolex Tournament of Champions, starting today at the Ohio State University Golf Club in Columbus, Ohio.

"It's tough and she's got to do the school work at the same time," Young Soo says. "I think it's worth it because of the experience in a big tournament like this and the LPGA makes a good player."