🔗 Share this article

The Northern Irish golfer breaks new ground 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 expands his golfing horizons, the European golf circuit enters the final phase of this year's season-long championship. McIlroy is in the leading spot to claim the annual championship for the fourth season running and seventh occasion in total.

There are only three more events following the Indian event; the subsequent week's Genesis Championship in South Korea - which wraps up the second half of the schedule - and then the final two tournaments in the Middle East.

These particular big money 'play-off' events in Abu Dhabi and Dubai are exclusively available for the top 70 and then top 50 in the standings.

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.

Sitting outside the seventieth position, at first glance it would appear both require high finishes from their trip to the Delhi Golf Club to extend their seasons. Yet, in fact, they are already assured of their positions in the UAE and the final event.

This results from a rarely discussed but practical exception whereby participants of Europe's Ryder Cup team are also deemed qualified for next month's season finale events.

Fleetwood, who triumphed in the PGA Tour's play-offs with his stirring win at August's Tour Championship in Georgia, lies ninety-fourth in the continental circuit's annual rankings. The Irish champion, who sank the winning stroke that retained the team trophy, is 155th.

Other squad members who can potentially benefit are Aberg (seventy-second) and Straka (one hundred forty-seventh).

This might question the fairness of a play-off system, which by nature is intended to bring intense competitive jeopardy, but this situation also illustrates realities faced by the Wentworth-based DP World Tour.

The tour is dependent on major sponsors such as the title partner, who are also the naming sponsors of this week's event in the Asian nation. The tour requires the biggest stars at their biggest events to justify the investment, which runs to millions of dollars.

Fleetwood has enjoyed one of his most successful campaigns, capped by his first win on American soil 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 upcoming season climax without him.

Practical considerations trumps competitive integrity, even though the top-ranked player - a local resident - has saved his best performances for events that do not qualify on his home tour.

The Englishman has so far played only four DP World Tour events and failed to finish in the top 20 at any of them; the Middle Eastern event, Scottish Open, BMW PGA Championship or pro-am competition.

Major championships also contribute on the Race to Dubai and his share of 16th at the Open was his sole high finish in the major events. 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 seems ridiculous for him not to be participating alongside the circuit's top performers at the end of the season.

While in the past the American and European circuits were fierce competitors they are now inextricably linked thanks to the strategic alliance that supports DP World Tour financial rewards.

As the English golfer, last week's winner of the Open De Espana, has positioned himself in McIlroy's wing mirrors as his nearest challenger at the summit of the season championship, much of the attention for the rest of the season will have an American bias.

The narrative will be driven by the scramble for 10 places on the PGA Tour for those who do not already have tour cards in the United States. The rising star, with three DPWT wins, is guaranteed of what is widely regarded as advancement to the American tour.

The Lancashire golfer, who also secured invites to the Augusta National and Open with his Madrid victory, is not in the tournament lineup but will launch a final push to try to overhaul McIlroy at the top of the rankings.

Meanwhile Dan Brown, the player Penge defeated in the Spanish playoff, is one of four other Britons in the midst of the battle for a future US tour card.

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

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

But the organization maintain it is a crucial system that supports their tour calendar, a necessary and attractive feature that maximises playing opportunities for its participants.

Undoubtedly this is the season period where the realities and compromises of men's professional golf seem at their most evident.