Smith tees up Mahomes’ stardom at Pebble Beach

AT&T PEBBLE BEACH PRO-AM

Former Niners quarterback admiring current Chiefs quarterback from afar

Alex Smith, former NFL quarterback, watches his ball after teeing off on the 17th hole during the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am on Thursday. RAUL EBIO — SANTA CRUZ SENTINEL

Sepp Straka hits out of a greenside bunker on the 17th hole during the second round of the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am at Pebble Beach Golf Links on Friday in Pebble Beach. HARRY HOW — GETTY IMAGES

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By Cam Inman

Bay Area News Group

PEBBLE BEACH >> Alex Smith initially didn’t realize that Thursday marked seven years to the day he got traded from the Kansas City Chiefs to make way for Patrick Mahomes’ championship spree.

“I knew he had a crazy bright future, but to know he was going to go on this run, it’s the greatest start to a career of all time. That’s just the facts,” Smith said. “No one would have had the audacity to predict this.”

Smith, playing in the AT&T Pebble Beach Pro-Am, beamed over the prospect of Mahomes securing a third straight Super Bowl win next Sunday against the Philadelphia Eagles. It