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

While the golf superstar widens his golfing horizons, the European golf circuit begins the final phase of this year's Race to Dubai. McIlroy is in pole position to claim the annual championship for the fourth season running and seventh time overall.

This includes only three more events after the India Championship; the following week's Genesis tournament in South Korea - which concludes the second half of the tour calendar - and then the final two tournaments in the Middle East.

These particular high-stakes 'play-off' events in the UAE capital and the emirate are exclusively available for the top 70 and then top 50 in the season rankings.

However for players such as Fleetwood and Lowry, who are also in this week's field in the subcontinent, there is less pressure than one would expect.

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

This results from a little publicised but pragmatic loophole whereby members of Europe's Ryder Cup team are also considered qualified for next month's closing tournaments.

Fleetwood, who won the PGA Tour's play-offs with his stirring win at August's Tour Championship in Atlanta, sits 94th in the European tour's annual rankings. The Irish champion, who sank the putt that secured the team trophy, is 155th.

Other European team-mates who can potentially benefit are Ludvig Aberg (seventy-second) and Straka (147th).

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

The tour is reliant on major sponsors such as the title partner, who are also the title sponsors of this current tournament in India. 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 best campaigns, highlighted by his first win on US territory at East Lake just under eight weeks past.

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

Common sense trumps pure competition, even though the top-ranked player - a Dubai resident - has reserved his strongest showings for tournaments that do not count on his domestic circuit.

The Englishman has to date played only four DP World Tour events and failed to place in the leading twenty at any of them; the Dubai Desert Classic, Scottish Open, flagship event or pro-am competition.

The majors also contribute on the Race to Dubai and his share of 16th at the Open was his sole high finish in the major events. But on the US tour he achieved seven top-five finishes.

The European star was also Europe's top points scorer 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 campaign.

While in the previous era the American and European circuits were fierce competitors they are now inextricably linked thanks to the cooperative partnership that supports DP World Tour prize funds.

As the English golfer, last week's winner of the Spanish Open, has moved into close pursuit as his nearest challenger at the top of the season championship, much of the attention for the remaining schedule will have an American bias.

The narrative will be driven by the competition for ten spots on the PGA Tour for those who do not already have playing rights in the US. The rising star, with three DPWT wins, is guaranteed of what is generally considered as 'promotion' to the American tour.

The Lancashire golfer, who also guaranteed invites to the Masters and British Open with his Madrid victory, is not in the tournament lineup but will mount a last effort to try to overtake McIlroy at the peak of the rankings.

Meanwhile the English competitor, the player the champion defeated in the Madrid play-off, is one of several British golfers in the midst of the competition for a future US tour card.

Yorkshireman Parry and the Bath duo of Jordan Smith and Laurie Canter also presently hold positions that would yield a valuable opportunity for next year.

Some observers see this development as evidence that the European circuit is now nothing more than a feeder for the larger circuit on the American continent.

However the DP World Tour argue it is a crucial system that supports their schedule, a essential and enticing feature that maximises playing opportunities for its members.

Undoubtedly this is the time of the year where the realities and necessary adjustments of men's professional golf seem at their clearest display.