Woods talks for 1st time since surgery

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.

Woods could receive 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.

-- AP