Spieth’s balancing act near cliff no problem

PEBBLE BEACH — Jordan Spieth shot 63 to surge into contention Saturday at the AT&T Pro-Am. In related news, he kept his balance while hitting his approach shot on No. 8.

That’s a really good thing, because Spieth stood only a few feet from the edge of a cliff. The drama began when Spieth’s tee shot veered right and came to rest just across the hazard line, perilously close to the cliff ’s edge. It was a 68-foot drop to the rocky shoreline below, as the blimp camera showed on CBS.

Spieth could have taken a one-stroke penalty, backed up and hit his next shot without putting his life in danger. But Spieth had a firm stance, so he figured he could pull off the shot — despite caddie Michael Greller’s protests.

“He tried to talk me out of it three times,” Spieth said. “I don’t blame him, looking back. … Not worth it, to be honest, but it was just a weird situation.”

Spieth hit the shot and immediately backpedaled away from the cliff. He missed the green to the left but got up-and-down to save par.

His bigger challenge after the round: talking to his wife and parents about the decision on No. 8.

“I’m not really sure what’s going to happen there,” Spieth said. “I just saw the blimp shot from overhead and it really bothered me. So I can’t imagine watching that live. … Not only do I have to explain that to my wife, but I’ve got to explain it to my mom and dad, too.”

The rest of Spieth’s round was exhilarating in a much safer way. He made one eagle (on No. 6), eight birdies and one bogey to reach 14-under for the tournament. Spieth will begin Sunday’s final round tied for fourth, only one shot off the lead.

Betts takes his cuts: Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts, making his tournament debut, missed the pro-am cut. He and his pro partner, J.J. Spaun, teamed to shoot 17-under for their three rounds.

Betts acknowledged he was out of his comfort zone in this game.

“It’s probably easier to hit 98 (mph), for me, than that golf ball sitting there,” he said. “I’m comfortable stepping in the batter’s box in front of millions of people, but I’m not comfortable stepping over a golf ball. I only play golf two months out of the year.”

Betts didn’t start playing golf until 2014, when he was a 21year-old rookie with the Red Sox. His presence in the AT&T prompted several fans in Dodgers garb to show up in the course, and it also predictably brought out some Giants fans.

One of them shouted, “Take it easy on the Giants,” to Betts during his round Thursday at Monterey Peninsula. Betts smiled and didn’t respond.

“It’s all in fun,” he said later.