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Rory McIlroy ventures into new territory by competing in the Indian tournament this week as he returns to competition for the initial occasion since the prestigious team event.

While the golf superstar widens his competitive experience, the DP World Tour begins the closing stage of this year's season-long championship. McIlroy is in pole position 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 subsequent 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 particular big money 'play-off' events in the UAE capital and Dubai are reserved for the leading seventy and then top 50 in the standings.

But for the likes of Tommy Fleetwood and Lowry, who are also in this tournament lineup in India, there is reduced stress than you might imagine.

Sitting outside the top 70, at first glance it would seem both require strong performances from their visit to the Delhi Golf Club to keep alive their campaigns. But, 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 loophole whereby participants of Europe's Ryder Cup team are also deemed eligible for next month's season finale events.

Fleetwood, who triumphed in the American playoff series with his stirring victory at the season-ending event in Atlanta, lies ninety-fourth in the continental circuit's annual rankings. Lowry, who sank the putt that retained the team trophy, is 155th.

Other squad members who can potentially benefit are Ludvig Aberg (seventy-second) and Sepp Straka (147th).

This could question the fairness of a play-off system, which by nature is intended to bring cut-throat high-stakes drama, but this scenario also demonstrates practical considerations faced by the headquartered European circuit.

The tour is dependent on major sponsors such as DP World, who are also the naming sponsors of this current tournament in India. They need the biggest stars at their premier tournaments to validate the financial commitment, which runs to substantial funding.

The talented golfer has experienced one of his best campaigns, capped by his first win on American soil at the Atlanta course just under two months ago.

He is one of the continent's superstars and, frankly, it would be inconceivable to host the upcoming season climax without him.

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

The Englishman has so far played only four European tournaments and been unable to finish in the top 20 at any of them; the Dubai Desert Classic, Scottish Open, flagship event or pro-am competition.

The majors also count on the Race to Dubai and his share of 16th at the British Open was his sole high finish in the major events. However on the US tour he enjoyed seven top-five finishes.

The European star was also Europe's top points scorer at the New York course last month. It seems absurd for him not to be participating with the tour's leading stars at the end of the campaign.

While in the past the PGA and European tours were deadly rivals they are now closely connected thanks to the cooperative partnership that supports DP World Tour prize funds.

As the English golfer, recent champion of the Spanish Open, has positioned himself in close pursuit as his closest rival at the summit of the Race to Dubai, much of the interest for the remaining schedule will have an US focus.

The storyline will be driven by the competition for 10 places on the American circuit for those who do not currently possess playing rights in the United States. Penge, with three European victories, is assured of what is widely regarded as advancement to the US circuit.

The Lancashire golfer, who also secured invites to the Masters and British 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 standings.

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

Northern golfer John Parry and the West Country pair of Smith and Canter also currently occupy spots that would yield a valuable opportunity for the coming season.

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

However the DP World Tour maintain it is a crucial system that underpins their schedule, a necessary and attractive feature that optimizes playing opportunities for its participants.

Certainly this is the time of the year where the practical aspects and necessary adjustments of men's professional golf seem at their most evident.