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The Northern Irish golfer ventures into new territory by playing in the Indian tournament this week as he returns to action for the initial occasion since the Ryder Cup.

While the golf superstar expands his golfing horizons, the DP World Tour begins the final phase of this year's Race to Dubai. McIlroy is in pole position to claim the season-long title for the fourth consecutive year and seventh occasion in total.

There are only three more events after the India Championship; the following week's Genesis Championship in Korean venue - which concludes the second half of the tour calendar - and then the last two competitions in the Arabian region.

These big money playoff tournaments in Abu Dhabi and the emirate are reserved for the leading seventy and then top 50 in the standings.

However for the likes of Tommy Fleetwood and Lowry, who are also in this tournament lineup in India, there is reduced stress than one would expect.

Sitting outside the seventieth position, at first glance it would seem both need high finishes from their trip to the Indian course to keep alive their seasons. But, actually, they are already assured of their places in the UAE and Dubai.

This is due to a little publicised but pragmatic exception whereby participants of the European squad are also considered eligible for the upcoming season finale events.

The English golfer, who won the PGA Tour's play-offs with his stirring victory at August's Tour Championship in Georgia, lies ninety-fourth in the continental circuit's annual rankings. The Irish champion, who made the winning stroke that secured the team trophy, is one hundred fifty-fifth.

Additional European team-mates who can potentially benefit are Ludvig Aberg (seventy-second) and Straka (one hundred forty-seventh).

This could challenge the integrity of a play-off system, which by nature is supposed to bring intense competitive jeopardy, but this scenario also illustrates practical considerations faced by the headquartered DP World Tour.

They are dependent on major sponsors such as DP World, who are also the naming sponsors of this current tournament in India. They need the top players at their premier tournaments to justify the investment, which amounts to substantial funding.

Fleetwood has experienced one of his best campaigns, highlighted by his maiden victory on American soil at East Lake just under two months ago.

Fleetwood represents one of European golf's superstars and, frankly, it would be unthinkable to stage the 2025 season finale without him.

Practical considerations overrides competitive integrity, even though the top-ranked player - a Dubai resident - has reserved his best performances for events that do not count on his domestic circuit.

Fleetwood has so far played only four DP World Tour events and been unable to finish in the top 20 at any tournament; the Dubai Desert Classic, Scottish Open, BMW PGA Championship or Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

The majors also contribute on the Race to Dubai and his sixteenth-place finish at the Open was his sole high finish in the major events. But on the American-based circuit he enjoyed seven top-five finishes.

Fleetwood was also Europe's top points scorer at the New York course last month. It seems absurd for him not to be participating alongside the tour's leading stars at the end of the campaign.

While in the past the PGA and European tours were fierce competitors they are now closely connected thanks to the cooperative partnership that supports DP World Tour financial rewards.

While the English golfer, recent champion of the Spanish Open, has positioned himself in close pursuit as his nearest challenger at the top of the season championship, much of the interest for the rest of the season will have an American bias.

The storyline will be shaped by the scramble for 10 places on the PGA Tour for those who do not already have tour cards in the US. The rising star, with three European victories, is guaranteed of what is generally considered as 'promotion' to the American tour.

The Clitheroe-based pro, who also guaranteed invitations to the Augusta National and British Open with his Spanish success, is not in the tournament lineup but will launch a last effort to try to overtake the leader at the top of the standings.

Meanwhile the English competitor, the man Penge defeated in the Madrid play-off, is one of four other Britons in the midst of the battle for a future US tour card.

Yorkshireman Parry and the Bath duo of Jordan Smith and Laurie Canter also presently hold positions that would provide a golden ticket for next year.

Some observers view this development as proof that the European circuit is now nothing more than a development tour for big brother on the American continent.

But the DP World Tour argue it is a crucial system that underpins their schedule, a essential and attractive feature that optimizes competitive chances for its participants.

Certainly this is the season period where the practical aspects and necessary adjustments of elite golf competition seem at their clearest display.