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The Northern Irish golfer breaks new ground by competing in India this week as he returns to action for the first time since the prestigious team event.

As the golf superstar expands his golfing horizons, the DP World Tour begins the closing stage of this year's season-long championship. The world-class golfer is in pole position to secure the season-long title for the fourth consecutive year and seventh time overall.

This includes only three more events after the India Championship; the following week's Genesis Championship in South Korea - which wraps up the second half of the schedule - and then the last two competitions in the Arabian region.

These particular big money 'play-off' events in the UAE capital and Dubai are exclusively available for the leading seventy and then leading fifty in the season rankings.

However for players such as Tommy Fleetwood and Shane Lowry, who are also in this week's field in India, there is reduced stress than one would expect.

Comfortably outside the seventieth position, at initial inspection it would appear both require strong performances from their visit to the Delhi Golf Club to keep alive their seasons. Yet, actually, they are already assured of their positions in Abu Dhabi and the final event.

This results from a little publicised but practical exception whereby members of Europe's Ryder Cup team are also considered qualified for the upcoming season finale events.

Fleetwood, who won the PGA Tour's play-offs with his impressive win at the season-ending event in Georgia, lies ninety-fourth in the European tour's season-long table. Lowry, who made the winning stroke that retained the team trophy, is one hundred fifty-fifth.

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

This might challenge the integrity of a playoff structure, which by definition is supposed to bring intense high-stakes drama, but this scenario also illustrates realities faced by the headquartered DP World Tour.

They are dependent on major sponsors such as DP World, who are also the naming sponsors of this current tournament in India. The tour requires the top players at their biggest events to justify the financial commitment, which amounts to substantial funding.

The talented golfer has experienced one of his best campaigns, highlighted by his maiden victory on American soil at East Lake just under two months ago.

Fleetwood represents one of the continent's superstars and, honestly, it would be inconceivable to host the upcoming season climax without him.

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

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

Major championships also count on the Race to Dubai and his sixteenth-place finish at the Open was his only top 20 in the big four tournaments. 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 seems absurd for him not to be participating with the tour's leading stars at the conclusion of the campaign.

Although in the past the American and European circuits were fierce competitors they are now closely connected thanks to the cooperative partnership that supports European tour financial rewards.

While the English golfer, last week's winner of the Open De Espana, has moved into close pursuit as his nearest challenger at the summit of the season championship, much of the interest for the remaining schedule will have an American bias.

The narrative will be shaped by the competition for 10 places on the American circuit for those who do not currently possess playing rights in the US. The rising star, with three European victories, is assured of what is generally considered as advancement to the US circuit.

The Clitheroe-based pro, who also secured invitations to the Augusta National and British Open with his Madrid victory, is not in the India field but will mount a last effort to try to overtake the leader at the top of the rankings.

And the English competitor, the man the champion beat in the Madrid play-off, is one of four other Britons in the thick of the battle for a future US tour card.

Northern golfer John Parry and the Bath duo of Smith and Canter also currently occupy positions that would provide a valuable opportunity for next year.

Some observers view this scenario as evidence that the European circuit is now essentially a development tour for the larger circuit on the other side of the pond.

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

Undoubtedly this is the season period where the realities and compromises of elite golf competition seem at their clearest display.