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

As the golf superstar widens his competitive experience, the European golf circuit enters the closing stage of this year's Race to Dubai. McIlroy is in pole position to secure the season-long title for the fourth consecutive year and seventh occasion in total.

There are only three more events following the India Championship; the subsequent week's Genesis tournament in South Korea - which wraps up the 'Back Nine' phase of the tour calendar - and then the last two competitions in the Arabian region.

These particular high-stakes playoff tournaments in the UAE capital and the emirate are exclusively available for the top 70 and then top 50 in the season rankings.

But for the likes of Fleetwood and Shane Lowry, who are also in this tournament lineup in India, there is reduced stress than one would expect.

Comfortably outside the top 70, at initial inspection it would seem both need strong performances from their visit to the Delhi Golf Club to extend their campaigns. Yet, in fact, they are guaranteed in advance of their places in the UAE and Dubai.

This is due to a little publicised but practical loophole whereby participants of the European squad are also deemed qualified for next month's closing tournaments.

Fleetwood, who triumphed in the PGA Tour's play-offs with his impressive win at August's Tour Championship in Atlanta, sits 94th in the European tour's annual rankings. The Irish champion, who made the putt that secured the Ryder Cup, is one hundred fifty-fifth.

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

This might question the fairness of a playoff structure, which by definition is intended to bring cut-throat high-stakes drama, but this situation also illustrates practical considerations faced by the headquartered DP World Tour.

The tour is reliant on big backers such as DP World, who are also the naming sponsors of this week's event in India. The tour requires the biggest stars at their biggest events to justify the investment, which runs to substantial funding.

Fleetwood has experienced one of his best campaigns, capped by his first win on American soil at the Atlanta course just under two months ago.

He is one of the continent's superstars and, frankly, it would be inconceivable to stage the upcoming season climax without him.

Common sense overrides competitive integrity, even though the top-ranked player - a Dubai resident - has reserved his strongest showings for events that do not qualify on his home tour.

The Englishman has to date played only four European tournaments and failed to place in the leading twenty at any of them; the Middle Eastern event, Scottish Open, flagship event or Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

Major championships also count on the Race to Dubai and his share of 16th at the British Open was his only top 20 in the major events. But on the American-based circuit he enjoyed seven top-five finishes.

Fleetwood was also the team's highest contributor at the New York course last month. It would be ridiculous for him not to be participating alongside the tour's leading stars at the conclusion of the season.

While in the past the American and European circuits were fierce competitors they are now closely connected thanks to the strategic alliance that underpins European tour prize funds.

As Marco Penge, 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 US focus.

The storyline will be driven by the competition for ten spots on the American circuit for those who do not already have tour cards in the United States. Penge, with three European victories, is assured of what is generally considered as advancement to the US circuit.

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 overhaul the leader at the peak of the rankings.

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

Yorkshireman John Parry and the Bath duo of Smith and Laurie Canter also currently occupy spots that would yield a golden ticket for next year.

Certain analysts view this scenario as proof that the European circuit is now essentially a feeder for the larger circuit on the other side of the pond.

However the DP World Tour argue it is a vital mechanism that underpins their schedule, a essential and attractive feature that optimizes playing opportunities for its members.

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