Ogilvy receives 12 stitches in finger, status for tournament remains unclear

Geoff Ogilvy might not be able to defend his title in the Hyundai Tournament of Champions after cutting open his finger on a coral reef at the beach and receiving 12 stitches.

Ogilvy was coming in from the surf Tuesday when he cut his right index finger on the reef.

“It’s not so much a big cut, it’s just in an awkward position,” said Paul Galli, his manager. “It was fairly deep, and when you’re on the reef, you’ve got to be careful with an infection. They cleaned it out and put in some stitches.”

Ogilvy won’t know until Thursday whether he can play in the PGA Tour’s season opener. He has won the past two times at Kapalua, and is trying to join Stuart Appleby and Gene Littler as the only players to capture the winners-only event three straight years.

The Australian is in the final group with FedExCup champion Jim Furyk.

Ogilvy was able to pull out of the pro-am Wednesday because of the injury, and Galli said he was resting in his room with hopes it would get better.

“He hasn’t hit any shots,” Galli said. “He was practicing swinging his room and it was giving him discomfort. It’s not ideal.”

The last time a defending champion failed to play in the Tournament of Champions was Jerry Barber in 1961.