🔗 Share this article

The Northern Irish golfer ventures into new territory by playing in India this week as he returns to competition for the first time since the prestigious team event.

While the golf superstar widens his competitive experience, the European golf circuit begins 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 consecutive year and seventh occasion in total.

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

These big money playoff tournaments in the UAE capital and the emirate are exclusively available for the top 70 and then top 50 in the standings.

But for players such as Fleetwood and Shane Lowry, who are also in this tournament lineup in India, there is reduced stress than you might imagine.

Sitting outside the seventieth position, at initial inspection it would seem both require strong performances from their trip to the Delhi Golf Club to extend their seasons. Yet, in fact, they are guaranteed in advance of their positions in the UAE and the final event.

This results from a little publicised but practical exception whereby members of Europe's Ryder Cup team are also deemed eligible for the upcoming closing tournaments.

Fleetwood, who triumphed in the PGA Tour's play-offs with his stirring win at August's Tour Championship in Atlanta, lies ninety-fourth in the continental circuit's annual rankings. The Irish champion, who sank the putt that secured the Ryder Cup, 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 question the integrity of a playoff structure, which by nature is intended to bring cut-throat competitive jeopardy, but this scenario also illustrates practical considerations faced by the headquartered DP World Tour.

The tour is reliant on big backers such as the title partner, who are also the naming sponsors of this current tournament in India. They need the biggest stars at their biggest events to justify the investment, which runs to millions of dollars.

The talented golfer has enjoyed one of his best seasons, capped by his maiden victory on American soil at East Lake just under eight weeks past.

Fleetwood represents one of the continent's superstars and, frankly, it would be unthinkable to stage the upcoming season climax without him.

Common sense trumps pure competition, even though the world number five - a local resident - has saved his strongest showings for tournaments that do not qualify on his domestic circuit.

The Englishman has so far played only four DP World Tour events and been unable to place in the leading twenty at any tournament; the Middle Eastern event, UK tournament, BMW PGA Championship or Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

Major championships also count on the season standings and his share of 16th at the British Open was his only top 20 in the big four tournaments. However on the American-based circuit he achieved 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 taking his place with the circuit's top performers at the end of the campaign.

While in the previous era the American and European circuits were deadly rivals they are now closely connected thanks to the strategic alliance that underpins DP World Tour financial rewards.

While Marco Penge, recent champion of the Open De Espana, has moved into McIlroy's wing mirrors as his closest rival at the top of the Race to Dubai, much of the attention for the rest of the season will have an US focus.

The narrative will be shaped by the scramble for ten spots on the American circuit for those who do not already have playing rights in the United States. The rising star, with three European victories, is assured of what is generally considered as advancement to the American tour.

The Clitheroe-based pro, who also guaranteed invitations to the Masters and Open with his Madrid victory, is not in the tournament lineup but will mount a final push to try to overtake the leader at the peak of the rankings.

And Dan Brown, the man the champion 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 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 view this development as proof that the DP World Tour is now nothing more than a development tour for big brother on the other side of the pond.

However the DP World Tour maintain it is a vital mechanism that underpins their tour calendar, a necessary and enticing feature that optimizes competitive chances for its members.

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