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The Northern Irish golfer breaks new ground by competing in India this week as he returns to action for the initial occasion since the Ryder Cup.

As the golf superstar widens his golfing horizons, the European golf circuit enters the closing stage of this year's season-long championship. The world-class golfer is in pole position to claim the annual championship for the fourth consecutive year and seventh occasion in total.

There are only three more events after the India Championship; the following week's Genesis tournament in Korean venue - which concludes the 'Back Nine' phase of the tour calendar - and then the final two tournaments in the Middle East.

These big money playoff tournaments in the UAE capital and Dubai are exclusively available for the top 70 and then top 50 in the season rankings.

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

Comfortably outside the seventieth position, at first glance it would appear both require high finishes from their trip to the Indian course to extend their seasons. Yet, in fact, they are guaranteed in advance of their positions in the UAE and the final event.

This results from a little publicised but practical exception whereby members of the European squad are also considered eligible for the upcoming closing tournaments.

The English golfer, who won the American playoff series with his impressive win at August's Tour Championship in Georgia, sits ninety-fourth in the continental circuit's annual rankings. The Irish champion, who made the putt that retained the Ryder Cup, is 155th.

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

This might question the fairness of a playoff structure, which by nature is intended to bring intense high-stakes drama, but this scenario also demonstrates realities faced by the headquartered DP World Tour.

The tour is reliant on big backers such as DP World, 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 investment, which runs to substantial funding.

The talented golfer has experienced one of his best campaigns, capped by his maiden victory on US territory at the Atlanta course just under two months ago.

He is one of European golf's elite players and, frankly, it would be unthinkable to host the 2025 season finale without him.

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

Fleetwood has to date played only four DP World Tour events and been unable to place in the leading twenty at any of them; the Middle Eastern event, UK tournament, BMW PGA Championship or pro-am competition.

The majors also contribute on the season standings and his sixteenth-place finish at the British Open was his only top 20 in the big four tournaments. However on the American-based circuit he achieved seven top-five finishes.

The European star was also Europe's top points scorer at Bethpage last month. It seems absurd for him not to be taking his place alongside the tour's leading stars at the end of the season.

Although in the past the PGA and European tours were fierce competitors they are now inextricably linked thanks to the strategic alliance that underpins European tour financial rewards.

While Marco Penge, recent champion of the Spanish Open, has positioned himself in McIlroy's wing mirrors as his closest rival at the summit of the season championship, much of the interest for the remaining schedule will have an US focus.

The narrative will be driven by the scramble for ten spots on the American circuit for those who do not currently possess tour cards in the United States. The rising star, with three DPWT wins, is guaranteed of what is widely regarded as 'promotion' to the US circuit.

The Lancashire golfer, who also secured invitations to the Augusta National and Open with his Spanish success, is not in the tournament lineup but will launch a final push to try to overtake McIlroy at the top of the standings.

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

Northern golfer Parry and the West Country pair of Smith and Laurie Canter also currently occupy positions that would yield a golden ticket for the coming season.

Certain analysts see this scenario as evidence that the DP World Tour is now nothing more than a feeder for big brother on the other side of the pond.

However the organization maintain it is a crucial system that underpins their schedule, a essential and enticing feature that maximises competitive chances for its participants.

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