It started with a suggestion from Matthew Guyatt.

The affable Queenslander sent an email to Australian Open organisers in which he floated the idea of putting a cricket bat on the ninth hole – the 63rd of the tournament thus far – in honour of cricketer Phillip Hughes.

Hughes was 63 not out when he was on the receiving end of the short ball which ended his life on Thursday.

So it was that a steady stream of the world’s most talented golfers arrived on the ninth tee today to be greeted by a lump of willow which carried with it immense significance.

Hughes’ death has resonated throughout the sporting community.

Golfers chasing the Stonehaven Cup have felt the devastation as much as anyone.

Many of them grew up playing cricket as well as golf.  Their sports are kindred in their nature.  Neither are generally considered life-threatening.

Yet Hughes’ death has led many to consider their own mortality.

 

Aaron Pike was among them. In his younger years, Pike played representative cricket against the likes of Nathan Hauritz, the former Test spin bowler.

The sport is in his blood. Today, he marked all his balls with ’63NO’ in honour of Hughes.

When he arrived at the ninth tee, he placed one of those balls on the handle of the Puma cricket bat.

"Through everything that happened, I put 63 as my marking over today," Pike said.

"When I saw the cricket bat there – it’s been pretty touching to hear all the stuff that has gone on and it is sad to here it – so I just put a ball there with 63 not out on it and left it on top of his cricket bat."

"Just to see that bat there I wanted to do something from my behalf, just to be part of it."

"I was always a cricketer. I played representative cricket – not to Michael Clarke’s level, but I could handle myself."

"I am a cricket diehard. I love my cricket. Watching Michael Clarke trying to do that press conference yesterday, I couldn’t imagine anything more painful."

"To see him do it was just so touching, it was unbelievable. It is just incredible. It really is."

Pike’s gesture was one of many by the players at The Australian this week, from wearing black ribbons to sending their regards on social media.

 

"I think it’s just that cricket, you don’t see it asa sport like that," Pike said.

"You don’t see it as a sport like rugby and AFL. I said to one of the  guys the other day when it got announced that imagine if a golfer hits one across the fairway and hits someone in the head and they die."

"It will change the game forever. This is going to change cricket forever."

"It’s just pretty touching. I have spoken about it a lot with people I have played with, with people I know here."

"I think just the circumstances of how it has happened has shocked us as golfers. That’s my opinion on it. It is so innocuous."

"I know Phil is not with us anymore but I feel so bad for that bowler, (Sean) Abbott."

"They played against each other. (He’s) probably good enough to be playing for Australia down the line."

"I feel so sorry for that guy. It’s really blown my mind, the cricket community and the Australian community, how we got behind this."

A spine tingling coincidence but if @JordanSpieth birdies 18 he will have fired 8-under 63 to win the #AusOpenGolf #63no #PhillipHughes

— PGA of Australia (@PGAofAustralia) November 30, 2014

American Young Gun @JordanSpieth shoots a 63 to win the #AusOpenGolf on Phillip Hughes’ birthday! #Special #63notout

— PGA of Australia (@PGAofAustralia) November 30, 2014

Congratulations @JordanSpieth our 2014 Australian Open champion! #AusOpenGolf pic.twitter.com/Px9KHdYqBO

— PGA of Australia (@PGAofAustralia) November 30, 2014