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The Northern Irish golfer breaks new ground by playing in the Indian tournament this week as he returns to competition for the first time since the Ryder Cup.

As the golf superstar expands his golfing horizons, the European golf circuit begins the final phase of this year's season-long championship. The world-class golfer is in the leading spot to secure the annual championship for the fourth consecutive year and seventh occasion in total.

There are only three additional tournaments following the Indian event; the subsequent 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 high-stakes playoff tournaments in Abu Dhabi and Dubai 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 tournament lineup in the subcontinent, there is less pressure than one would expect.

Comfortably below the seventieth position, at initial inspection it would seem both require high finishes from their visit to the Delhi Golf Club to keep alive their campaigns. But, actually, they are guaranteed in advance of their places in Abu Dhabi and the final event.

This is due to a rarely discussed but practical exception whereby members of the European squad are also deemed eligible for next month's closing tournaments.

Fleetwood, who won the American playoff series with his impressive win at August's Tour Championship in Atlanta, sits ninety-fourth in the continental circuit's season-long table. Lowry, who sank the winning stroke that retained the team trophy, is 155th.

Other squad members who can potentially benefit are Aberg (72nd) and Sepp Straka (147th).

This might question the fairness of a play-off system, which by nature is intended to bring cut-throat high-stakes drama, but this scenario also demonstrates practical considerations faced by the Wentworth-based DP World Tour.

They are dependent on big backers such as DP World, who are also the naming sponsors of this current tournament in the Asian nation. The tour requires the biggest stars at their biggest events to validate the financial commitment, which runs to millions of dollars.

Fleetwood has experienced one of his best campaigns, capped by his maiden victory on American soil at East Lake just under eight weeks past.

He is one of the continent's elite players and, frankly, it would be unthinkable to host the upcoming season climax without him.

Practical considerations overrides pure competition, even though the world number five - a Dubai resident - has reserved his strongest showings for events that do not count on his home tour.

The Englishman has to date played only four European tournaments and failed to place in the top 20 at any tournament; the Middle Eastern event, Scottish Open, BMW PGA Championship or Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

Major championships also contribute on the season standings and his sixteenth-place finish at the Open was his sole high finish in the major events. But on the US tour 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 circuit's top performers at the conclusion of the season.

Although in the past the PGA and European tours were deadly rivals they are now closely connected 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 McIlroy's wing mirrors as his closest rival 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 currently possess playing rights in the US. Penge, with three European victories, is guaranteed of what is widely regarded as 'promotion' to the American tour.

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

And the English competitor, the player Penge defeated in the Spanish playoff, is one of four other Britons in the midst of the competition for a 2026 PGA card.

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

Certain analysts see this development as proof that the DP World Tour is now essentially a development tour for the larger circuit on the other side of the pond.

But the DP World Tour argue it is a vital mechanism that supports their schedule, a necessary and enticing feature that optimizes competitive chances for its members.

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