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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 Northern Irishman expands his golfing horizons, the DP World Tour begins the closing stage of this year's Race to Dubai. McIlroy is in the leading spot to secure the annual championship for the fourth season running and seventh occasion in total.

This includes only three more events following the India Championship; the following week's Genesis tournament in South Korea - which concludes the second half of the schedule - and then the final two tournaments in the Arabian region.

These high-stakes playoff tournaments in Abu Dhabi and Dubai are reserved for the leading seventy and then leading fifty in the standings.

But for the likes of Tommy Fleetwood and Shane Lowry, who are also in this week's field in the subcontinent, there is reduced stress than one would expect.

Comfortably below the seventieth position, at first glance it would seem both need strong performances from their trip to the Delhi Golf Club to extend their seasons. But, actually, they are already assured of their positions in Abu Dhabi and Dubai.

This is due to a little publicised but pragmatic exception whereby participants of Europe's Ryder Cup team are also deemed qualified for the upcoming season finale events.

The English golfer, who triumphed in the PGA Tour's play-offs with his stirring victory at August's Tour Championship in Georgia, sits ninety-fourth in the European tour's season-long table. The Irish champion, who sank the winning stroke that secured the Ryder Cup, is 155th.

Additional European team-mates who can potentially benefit are Aberg (72nd) and Straka (147th).

This could challenge the fairness of a play-off system, which by definition is intended to bring cut-throat high-stakes drama, but this situation also demonstrates realities faced by the Wentworth-based European circuit.

The tour is reliant on major sponsors such as the title partner, who are also the naming sponsors of this week's event in the Asian nation. They need the top players at their biggest events to justify the financial commitment, which runs to millions of dollars.

The talented golfer has enjoyed one of his best seasons, highlighted by his first win on US territory at the Atlanta course just under eight weeks past.

He is one of European golf's elite players and, honestly, it would be inconceivable to stage the 2025 season finale without him.

Practical considerations trumps competitive integrity, even though the world number five - a local resident - has saved his strongest showings for events that do not count on his domestic circuit.

The Englishman has to date played only four European tournaments and failed to place in the leading twenty at any tournament; the Dubai Desert Classic, UK tournament, BMW PGA Championship 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.

The European star was also Europe's top points scorer at the New York course last month. It would be ridiculous for him not to be taking his place with the circuit's top performers at the end of the season.

While in the previous era the PGA and European tours were deadly rivals they are now closely connected thanks to the cooperative partnership that underpins European tour financial rewards.

As the English golfer, recent champion of the Open De Espana, has moved into McIlroy's wing mirrors as his nearest challenger at the top 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 ten spots on the American circuit for those who do not already have playing rights in the United States. The rising star, 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 India field but will mount a final push to try to overtake McIlroy at the peak of the rankings.

And Dan Brown, the player Penge beat in the Spanish playoff, is one of several British golfers in the thick of the competition for a 2026 PGA card.

Yorkshireman John Parry and the West Country pair of Jordan Smith and Laurie Canter also presently hold spots that would yield a valuable opportunity for next year.

Certain analysts view this development as proof that the DP World Tour is now nothing more than a development tour for big brother on the other side of the pond.

However the organization argue it is a crucial system that underpins their tour calendar, a essential and attractive feature that optimizes competitive chances for its participants.

Undoubtedly this is the time of the year where the practical aspects and necessary adjustments of elite golf competition seem at their clearest display.