Tiger Woods only made it look easy.

His dominance became even more impressive Wednesday when he revealed that pain in his left knee was so intense last year it made him sick to his stomach, and he had to take injections just to keep playing.

“It was a tough, tough year, one I don’t want to have to go through again,” Woods said Wednesday during a conference call, his first interview since Dec. 12 knee surgery.

Despite benign cysts that made his knee ligaments inflate like a balloon, Woods became the first player in 30 years to win a season’s first two majors. He ruled golf for the fourth straight season, winning a total of six times.

Imagine how he might play if healthy.

Woods could get an answer soon. He received clearance from his doctors Saturday to hit a driver and as many practice balls as he wants. He’ll decide next week whether he is fit enough to return Feb. 13 for the Buick Invitational in San Diego.

If not, Woods said he would try to play either of the following weeks, in the Nissan Open at Riviera or the Match Play Championship.

Woods first revealed his left knee was hurting at the season-ending Tour Championship. He showed few signs of pain during the year, when he finished out of the top 10 only twice after winning the Masters.

“It was a good acting job,” he said.

Woods had knee surgery while in college, although he says this injury is unrelated. He started feeling intermittent pain about two years ago, but it never was sore long enough for him to pay attention.

“Last year, toward the end, it was brutal,” he said. “A lot of times, I didn’t want to go out there and play. I felt nausea in my stomach because the pain was so great. I had it injected numerous times to play last year.”

The worst he felt was at Sherwood Country Club in December, when he made up seven shots on Padraig Harrington in the final round before losing by two. Woods told his agent the night before he might have to withdraw.

“In the morning, it was borderline I would play,” Woods said. “I took painkillers, and it still hurt. As it started getting warmer, I was feeling better and said, ‘Let’s give it a try.”‘

The one-hour surgery removed fluid from inside and around the anterior cruciate ligament, and removed benign cysts. Woods’ doctor said the long-term recovery prospects are good.

Tway, Ames share lead at Bob Hope Classic

La Quinta, Calif. — Bob Tway eagled his second hole and went on to shoot a 9-under-par 63 Wednesday to share the Bob Hope Classic lead with Stephen Ames.

Two-time champion John Cook and Chris DiMarco were one stroke back. David Duval, playing his first tournament of the year, was in a group another shot back. Defending champion Phil Mickelson had a 70.

Tway, who took three months off to spend time with his wife and two children, struggled in his first tournament back. He shot 76-71 and missed the cut last week at Phoenix.

But he was on target with both his irons and his putter during the opening round of the five-day Hope, jump-starting his day by knocking a 5-iron within five feet of the hole.