Tiger Woods is counting the years until he’s eligible for the Champions Tour

Tiger Woods, after drowning another golf ball from 100 yards during a media day, acknowledged his age in a way he had never done before: He noted on Tuesday that he’s making the turn toward eligibility for the Champions Tour.

“Nine more years — nine — that’s all I got, before I’m going to beat you on the senior tour!” Woods said, pointing at his fellow assistant Ryder Cup captain, Tom Lehman, during a news conference to announce Woods’ plans to develop his first public golf course.

“It’s right around the corner now,” Woods, 41, said about turning 50, the minimum age for Champions Tour players.

Woods, who offered the de rigueur, “the back is progressing,” update on the state of his health and, as always, no timetable for his return to competition, said he agreed with Mark O’Meara’s assessment of his fitness.

“I have good days and bad days,” he said, echoing what O’Meara told GolfChannel.com from Augusta ahead of the Masters. “I’ve had three back operations, and that’s just kind of the nature of the business unfortunately. That’s all I can say.”

At this rate, Woods, out of commission since withdrawing from the Dubai Desert Classic in February following a first-round 77, may not be ready for his next comeback until the Champions Tour beckons. His inactivity, however, did not stop him from entering into what he joked was a not-so friendly competition with a young boy named Hudson.

Veteran Woods watchers, recalling his triple-dunk at last year’s exhibition at Congressional, had butterflies, even if the 14-time major champion did not.

Turned out, they were right to be jumpy, as Woods rinsed another ball from a tee 100 yards out. The reaction from the bleacher seats after he hit the ball and the “OK, Hudson, just put it on the grass” from Lehman, who moderated Tuesday’s event, offered a hint that things did not go well on his first attempt.

“First shot was crap; I hit it in the water,” said Woods, stating the obvious. “The second shot I stiffed it.”

The former world No. 1 could not even get a break from those keeping track of the festivities on social media and who believe Woods, who has taken heat for his “dad jeans,” is no fashionista.

Woods’ new track will be called Payne’s Valley Golf Course, in honor of the late Payne Stewart, and is scheduled to open in 2019. The project includes plans for a family-friendly, par-3 short course.