Jordan Spieth cliff-edge shot forced Pebble Beach change thanks to copycat fans

03 February 2023 , 08:26

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Jordan Spieth played a daring cliff-edge shot at Pebble Beach (Image: @GolfonCBS/Twitter)

Jordan Spieth's dangerous cliff-edge shot at last year's AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am has forced bosses at the iconic course to move forward their hazard lines, after a number of daring fans tried to replicate the shot.

Spieth shocked many in the world of golf 12 months a go, after playing his approach shot on the eighth hole just a metre-or-so away from a terrifying cliff-edge. The courageous shot was one of the stand-out on-course moments from the 2022 season.

The Pebble Beach course is one of the most iconic setups in the world, thanks to its remarkable views and challenging holes down the California coastline.

Unsurprisingly the course attracts plenty of visitors, and after seeing Spieth's efforts last year, many have bravely - or stupidly - tried to replicate the three-time major champion. The casual play attempts are now no more though.

PGA Tour referee Gary Young revealed that away from the Pro-Am event, the course organisers have made a 'conscious effort' to move the hazard line further away from the 70-foot drop. Speaking about the setup from Thursday through to Sunday, he told ESPN: "We painted the line where we traditionally have it.

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"I know that as a club, they make a concerted effort to try to move that line further away. Resort play, that's been their concern, and they just want to make sure that they're doing everything that they can to discourage people from attempting that shot."

Spieth's daring heroics saw him miraculously save par when playing the shot 12 months ago. A year on though, the American has admitted he would now be slightly more apprehensive about playing the shot. He commented: "I think I saved a stroke. Does the reward outweigh the risk?

"Not if you think the risk was dying. But I also, I felt I could whack it over the water with a 7-iron and get it up near the green. And I thought up near the green would be easier than hitting a 7-iron from 10 yards back. And, yeah, I think now knowing my son a lot better, he was really young at the time, I may not have hit that shot...

Would you be brave enough to replicate Spieth's shot? Let us know in the comments section below.

Jordan Spieth is a little bit more apprehensive returning to Pebble Beach this year (Getty Images)

"They fertilise the rough in that area pretty heavily. They do everything again, to promote a good thick bit of rough that's going to prevent a golf ball from chasing along the ground through the fairway into that area... 'It stops the balls that may have gone through before,' he said.

"So there's no win here. I think I really messed things up by hitting that because I don't really know the solution. Other than shave it all the way so that, no matter what, it goes right in, and it has less of a chance of stopping short. I don't really know. Because you can't put a fence there, because your second shot will hit the fence."

Joshua Lees