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The Northern Irish golfer breaks new ground by playing in India this week as he makes his comeback to competition for the initial occasion since the prestigious team event.

While the golf superstar widens his competitive experience, the DP World Tour begins the closing stage of this year's season-long championship. McIlroy is in pole position to secure the annual championship for the fourth season running and seventh time overall.

There are only three more events after the India Championship; the subsequent 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 'play-off' events in Abu Dhabi and Dubai are reserved for the top 70 and then leading fifty in the standings.

However for players such as Tommy Fleetwood and Shane Lowry, who are also in this week's field in India, there is reduced stress than you might imagine.

Comfortably outside the seventieth position, at initial inspection it would seem both require strong performances from their trip to the Indian course to extend their seasons. But, in fact, they are guaranteed in advance of their positions in Abu Dhabi and the final event.

This results from a rarely discussed but practical exception whereby participants of the European squad are also considered eligible for next month's closing tournaments.

Fleetwood, who won the American playoff series with his stirring win at the season-ending event in Atlanta, sits 94th in the European tour's season-long table. The Irish champion, who made the winning stroke that retained the team trophy, is one hundred fifty-fifth.

Additional European team-mates who can also qualify are Aberg (seventy-second) and Sepp Straka (one hundred forty-seventh).

This might question the integrity of a playoff structure, which by definition is supposed to bring intense high-stakes drama, but this scenario also demonstrates realities faced by the Wentworth-based European circuit.

The tour is reliant on major sponsors such as DP World, who are also the title sponsors of this week's event in the Asian nation. They need the biggest stars at their premier tournaments to validate the investment, which amounts to millions of dollars.

Fleetwood has experienced one of his most successful seasons, highlighted by his first win on US territory at East Lake just under two months ago.

Fleetwood represents one of the continent's elite players and, honestly, it would be inconceivable to host the 2025 season finale without him.

Practical considerations overrides pure competition, even though the top-ranked player - a Dubai resident - has saved his best performances for events that do not qualify on his home tour.

The Englishman has so far played only four European tournaments and failed to finish in the top 20 at any tournament; the Middle Eastern event, UK tournament, BMW PGA Championship or Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

The majors also contribute on the Race to Dubai and his share of 16th at the British Open was his sole high finish in the big four tournaments. However on the US tour he enjoyed seven top-five finishes.

Fleetwood was also the team's highest contributor at Bethpage last month. It would be ridiculous for him not to be participating with the tour's leading stars at the end of the season.

While in the previous era the PGA and European tours were deadly rivals they are now inextricably linked thanks to the strategic alliance that supports DP World Tour financial rewards.

As Marco Penge, last week's winner of the Open De Espana, has positioned himself in McIlroy's wing mirrors as his closest rival at the top of the season championship, much of the attention for the remaining schedule will have an US focus.

The storyline will be shaped by the scramble for 10 places on the American circuit for those who do not currently possess tour cards in the US. Penge, with three DPWT wins, is assured of what is generally considered as advancement to the US circuit.

The Clitheroe-based pro, who also secured invitations to the Augusta National and British Open with his Spanish success, is not in the India field but will launch a final push to try to overtake the leader at the top of the standings.

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

Northern golfer John Parry and the Bath duo of Jordan Smith and Canter also currently occupy spots that would yield a valuable opportunity for next year.

Some observers see this scenario as evidence that the DP World Tour is now essentially a feeder for big brother on the other side of the pond.

But the DP World Tour argue it is a crucial system that supports their schedule, a necessary and enticing element that maximises playing opportunities for its participants.

Certainly this is the time of the year where the practical aspects and compromises of men's professional golf seem at their most evident.