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The Northern Irish golfer ventures into new territory by playing in the Indian tournament this week as he makes his comeback to competition for the first time since the Ryder Cup.

While the Northern Irishman widens his competitive experience, the European golf circuit enters the closing stage of this year's season-long championship. McIlroy is in the leading spot to secure the annual championship for the fourth consecutive year and seventh time overall.

This includes only three additional tournaments following the India Championship; the subsequent week's Genesis tournament in Korean venue - which wraps up the 'Back Nine' phase of the tour calendar - and then the last two competitions in the Arabian region.

These particular big money playoff tournaments in Abu Dhabi and the emirate are exclusively available for the top 70 and then top 50 in the standings.

However for the likes of Fleetwood and Lowry, who are also in this week's field in India, there is reduced stress than one would expect.

Sitting outside the seventieth position, at first glance it would appear both need strong performances from their trip to the Delhi Golf Club to extend their seasons. Yet, in fact, they are already assured of their places in the UAE and Dubai.

This results from a little publicised but pragmatic exception whereby members of the European squad are also considered eligible for the upcoming closing tournaments.

The English golfer, who won the PGA Tour's play-offs with his impressive victory at August's Tour Championship in Georgia, sits 94th in the continental circuit's season-long table. The Irish champion, who sank the winning stroke that secured the team trophy, is one hundred fifty-fifth.

Additional squad members who can also qualify are Ludvig Aberg (72nd) and Sepp Straka (147th).

This might question the fairness of a playoff structure, which by nature is supposed to bring cut-throat high-stakes drama, but this situation also demonstrates realities faced by the headquartered DP World Tour.

They are dependent on major sponsors such as the title partner, who are also the naming sponsors of this week's event in the Asian nation. They need the top players at their premier tournaments to justify the investment, which amounts to millions of dollars.

The talented golfer has enjoyed one of his most successful seasons, capped by his first win on American soil at East Lake just under eight weeks past.

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

Common sense trumps competitive integrity, even though the world number five - a local resident - has saved his best performances for tournaments that do not qualify on his domestic circuit.

Fleetwood has so far played only four European tournaments and been unable to finish in the leading twenty at any tournament; the Middle Eastern event, UK tournament, flagship event or Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

Major championships also contribute on the season standings and his share of 16th at the British Open was his only top 20 in the major events. But on the US tour he achieved seven top-five finishes.

Fleetwood was also the team's highest contributor at the New York course last month. It seems ridiculous for him not to be taking his place with the circuit's top performers at the end of the campaign.

Although in the previous era the PGA and European tours were deadly rivals they are now closely connected thanks to the strategic alliance that supports European tour prize funds.

While 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 summit of the season championship, much of the attention for the remaining schedule will have an American bias.

The storyline will be shaped by the competition for ten spots on the PGA Tour for those who do not already have tour cards in the United States. Penge, with three DPWT wins, is guaranteed of what is generally considered as advancement to the American tour.

The Lancashire golfer, who also guaranteed invites to the Masters and Open with his Spanish success, is not in the tournament lineup but will mount a final push to try to overhaul McIlroy at the peak of the standings.

Meanwhile Dan Brown, the man the champion beat in the Madrid play-off, is one of four other Britons in the midst of the competition for a 2026 PGA card.

Northern golfer John Parry and the Bath duo of Smith and Laurie Canter also presently hold positions that would yield a golden ticket for next year.

Certain analysts see this scenario as proof that the DP World Tour is now essentially a feeder for big brother on the other side of the pond.

However the DP World Tour argue it is a crucial system that supports their schedule, a necessary and attractive feature that maximises competitive chances for its participants.

Undoubtedly this is the time of the year where the realities and compromises of elite golf competition seem at their most evident.