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The Northern Irish golfer breaks new ground by playing in the Indian tournament this week as he makes his comeback to action for the initial occasion since the Ryder Cup.

While the golf superstar widens his competitive experience, the DP World Tour begins the closing stage of this year's Race to Dubai. McIlroy is in pole position to claim the season-long title for the fourth season running and seventh time overall.

There are only three more events following the India Championship; the subsequent week's Genesis Championship in South Korea - which concludes the 'Back Nine' phase of the schedule - and then the last two competitions in the Middle East.

These particular big money playoff tournaments in Abu Dhabi and the emirate are reserved for the top 70 and then leading fifty in the standings.

However 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 below the seventieth position, at first glance it would seem both need high finishes from their trip to the Indian course to extend their campaigns. Yet, actually, they are already assured of their places in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

This results from a rarely discussed but pragmatic exception whereby participants of Europe's Ryder Cup team are also considered qualified for next month's closing tournaments.

Fleetwood, who won the PGA Tour's play-offs with his stirring victory at August's Tour Championship in Atlanta, lies 94th in the continental circuit's season-long table. Lowry, who sank the putt that secured the team trophy, is 155th.

Other European team-mates who can also qualify are Ludvig Aberg (72nd) and Straka (147th).

This might question the fairness of a playoff structure, which by definition is supposed to bring cut-throat competitive jeopardy, but this scenario also illustrates realities faced by the headquartered DP World Tour.

The tour is reliant on major sponsors such as the title partner, who are also the title sponsors of this current tournament in the Asian nation. They need the biggest stars at their biggest events to justify the financial commitment, which runs to substantial funding.

Fleetwood has experienced one of his best seasons, capped by his first win on US territory at East Lake just under eight weeks past.

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

Common sense trumps pure competition, even though the top-ranked player - a local resident - has reserved his strongest showings for events that do not count on his domestic circuit.

Fleetwood has to date played only four DP World Tour events and failed to finish in the top 20 at any of them; the Dubai Desert Classic, Scottish Open, flagship event or Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

Major championships also count on the season standings and his sixteenth-place finish at the Open was his only top 20 in the major events. However on the American-based circuit he enjoyed seven placements in the top five.

Fleetwood was also the team's highest contributor at the New York course last month. It would be ridiculous for him not to be taking his place with the tour's leading stars at the end of the season.

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

As the English golfer, last week's winner of the Open De Espana, has positioned himself in close pursuit as his nearest challenger at the summit of the Race to Dubai, much of the attention for the remaining schedule will have an US focus.

The storyline will be shaped by the competition for ten spots on the American circuit for those who do not currently possess tour cards in the US. Penge, with three DPWT wins, is guaranteed of what is generally considered as advancement to the American tour.

The Clitheroe-based pro, who also guaranteed invites to the Augusta National and British Open with his Spanish success, is not in the tournament lineup but will mount a last effort to try to overtake the leader at the peak of the standings.

And the English competitor, the man the champion defeated in the Madrid play-off, is one of several British golfers in the thick of the battle for a future US tour card.

Northern golfer Parry and the Bath duo of Smith and Canter also presently hold spots that would yield a golden ticket for the coming season.

Certain analysts see this development as proof that the European circuit is now nothing more than a feeder for the larger circuit on the American continent.

However the DP World Tour argue it is a vital mechanism that supports their tour calendar, a essential and enticing feature that optimizes playing opportunities for its members.

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