Webb Simpson was searching for his ball in the weeds short of the fifth green Saturday at Kapalua when he stepped on a clump of grass and out popped the ball. Five days ago, he would have had to add one shot to his score.
Under the new Rules of Golf, he put it back where it was without penalty.
There has been plenty of talk about players putting on the green with the flagstick in the hole, and having to drop the ball at knee-high length instead of shoulder-length. This was the first example of the intent behind the five-year project to modernize the rules.
It's all about common sense.
"Under the previous code where a player is searching for the ball, who is the most interested to find the ball? The player," said Stephen Cox, a PGA Tour rules official "Who do we penalize? They player, who then becomes the least interested in finding the ball."
One example of that came last year in the first round of the U.S. Open at Shinnecock Hills. Phil Mickelson pulled his approach into grass so thick that he couldn't see it. A marshal placed a tiny flag in the vicinity of where it was last seen.
Mickelson explained to the volunteer that if he stepped on the ball, it would be a penalty, but it was OK if the volunteer accidentally stepped on it.
"You've got to find it, man," Mickelson said. "Get in there and find it."
The marshal did, and Mickelson then asked an official if there was a rule that he had to play the shot if he couldn't see it. There was no relief then or now for that one.
Simpson called for a ruling to be sure. It falls under Rule 7-4 that says, "There is no penalty if your ball is accidentally moved by your, your opponent or anyone else while trying to find or identify it."
Simpson still was left in a tough spot in high grass. He blasted it over the green and eventually made bogey.
A year ago, it could have been worse.
ST. MORITZ, Switzerland (AP) — New Zealand’s Alice Robinson was already leading the Olympic season’s giant slalom standings. Now she’s a threat in super-G, too.
Robinson won a World Cup super-G on Sunday for her first career victory in the discipline.
Robinson finished 0.08 seconds ahead of Romane Miradoli of France and 0.19 ahead of Sofia Goggia of Italy.
The 41-year-old American standout Lindsey Vonn finished fourth, 0.27 behind. In a downhill on Friday, Vonn became the oldest winner in the circuit's history. Vonn then finished second in another downhill on Saturday.
Mikaela Shiffrin, the holder of a record 104 World Cup victories, missed the final gate but did not fall.
Shiffrin hadn’t entered a speed race since crashing in a downhill in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy, nearly two years ago. She’s also still recovering her form after another crash in a giant slalom in Killington, Vermont, last season left her with a deep puncture wound on the right side of her abdomen.
Emma Aicher, the German skier who won Saturday’s downhill, lost control coming over a jump early in her run and fell. But she got right back up and appeared uninjured.
U.S. Ski Team coach Alex Hoedlmoser set a tricky course that caught out several other racers, too — despite clear and sunny skies providing perfect conditions.
Robinson has won two of the four giant slaloms this season but had never finished better than fourth in a super-G.
Now she’s a two-discipline threat for the Milan Cortina Olympics. Women’s Alpine skiing at the Feb. 6-22 Winter Games will be held in Cortina d’Ampezzo, Italy.
All six of Robinson's previous World Cup victories came in giant slalom.
Robinson moved up from third to second in the overall standings and is now within 64 points of Shiffrin.
The circuit now shifts to Val d’Isere, France, for more speed racing next weekend.
AP Olympics: https://apnews.com/hub/milan-cortina-2026-winter-olympics
United States' Mikaela Shiffrin reacts in the finish area of an alpine ski, women's World Cup super-G event, in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Sunday Dec. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Luciano Bisi)
Italy's Sofia Goggia speeds down the course during an alpine ski, women's World Cup super-G event, in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Sunday Dec. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)
New Zealand's Alice Robinson reacts after completing an alpine ski, women's World Cup super-G event, in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Sunday Dec. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Luciano Bisi)
United States' Lindsey Vonn reacts after completing an alpine ski, women's World Cup super-G event, in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Sunday Dec. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Luciano Bisi)
United States' Lindsey Vonn speeds down the course during an alpine ski, women's World Cup super-G event, in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Sunday Dec. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)
New Zealand's Alice Robinson speeds down the course during an alpine ski, women's World Cup super-G event, in St. Moritz, Switzerland, Sunday Dec. 14, 2025. (AP Photo/Gabriele Facciotti)
