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Rory McIlroy ventures into new territory by playing in India this week as he makes his comeback to action for the first time since the prestigious team event.

While the golf superstar widens his competitive experience, the DP World Tour enters the final phase of this year's Race to Dubai. McIlroy is in the leading spot to secure the season-long title for the fourth season running and seventh time overall.

This includes only three more events after the Indian event; the subsequent week's Genesis tournament in Korean venue - which wraps up the second half of the schedule - and then the last two competitions in the Arabian region.

These big money playoff tournaments in the UAE capital and Dubai are reserved for the top 70 and then top 50 in the season rankings.

But for players such as Fleetwood and Lowry, who are also in this tournament lineup in the subcontinent, there is less pressure than one would expect.

Comfortably outside the top 70, at initial inspection it would seem both require strong performances from their visit to the Indian course to extend their campaigns. But, actually, they are already assured of their positions in the UAE and Dubai.

This results from a rarely discussed but pragmatic loophole whereby members of Europe's Ryder Cup team are also deemed eligible for the upcoming closing tournaments.

The English golfer, who won the American playoff series with his stirring win at August's Tour Championship in Georgia, lies ninety-fourth in the continental circuit's season-long table. The Irish champion, who made the putt that secured the team trophy, is one hundred fifty-fifth.

Additional squad members who can also qualify are Ludvig Aberg (seventy-second) and Sepp Straka (one hundred forty-seventh).

This could challenge the integrity of a playoff structure, which by definition is intended to bring intense competitive jeopardy, but this scenario also illustrates realities faced by the Wentworth-based DP World Tour.

They are dependent on big backers such as the title partner, who are also the naming sponsors of this current tournament in the Asian nation. The tour requires the biggest stars at their premier tournaments to justify the investment, which runs to millions of dollars.

Fleetwood has enjoyed one of his best seasons, capped by his first win on US territory at the Atlanta course just under two months ago.

He is one of European golf's superstars and, honestly, it would be unthinkable to host the 2025 season finale without him.

Practical considerations overrides pure competition, even though the world number five - a Dubai resident - has reserved his best performances for tournaments that do not qualify on his domestic circuit.

Fleetwood has so far played only four DP World Tour events and failed to finish in the leading twenty at any of them; the Middle Eastern event, Scottish Open, BMW PGA Championship or pro-am competition.

Major championships also count on the Race to Dubai and his sixteenth-place finish at the Open was his only top 20 in the major events. But on the US tour he enjoyed seven top-five finishes.

The European star was also the team's highest contributor at the New York course 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 European tour prize funds.

While the English golfer, recent champion of the Spanish Open, has positioned himself in McIlroy's wing mirrors as his nearest challenger at the top of the Race to Dubai, much of the interest for the rest of the season will have an US focus.

The storyline will be shaped by the competition for 10 places on the American circuit for those who do not currently possess tour cards in the United States. The rising star, with three DPWT wins, is guaranteed of what is generally considered as 'promotion' to the US circuit.

The Clitheroe-based pro, who also guaranteed invites to the Augusta National and 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 standings.

And the English competitor, the man Penge defeated in the Spanish playoff, is one of several British golfers in the thick of the battle for a future US tour card.

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

Some observers see this scenario as proof that the European circuit is now nothing more than a feeder for big brother on the American continent.

But the organization argue it is a vital mechanism that underpins their schedule, a necessary and enticing feature that optimizes playing opportunities for its participants.

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