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Rory McIlroy ventures into new territory by playing in the Indian tournament this week as he makes his comeback to action for the first time since the prestigious team event.

As the Northern Irishman expands his competitive experience, the DP World Tour begins the final phase 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 time overall.

There are only three additional tournaments after the India Championship; the following week's Genesis tournament in Korean venue - which concludes the second half of the schedule - and then the final two tournaments in the Middle East.

These high-stakes 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 players such as Tommy Fleetwood and Shane Lowry, who are also in this tournament lineup in India, there is reduced stress than you might imagine.

Comfortably below the top 70, at first glance it would appear both require strong performances from their trip to the Indian course to keep alive their seasons. But, actually, they are already assured of their positions in Abu Dhabi and the final event.

This is due to a little publicised but practical exception whereby participants of the European squad are also considered eligible for the upcoming season finale events.

Fleetwood, who triumphed in the American playoff series with his impressive victory at August's Tour Championship in Atlanta, sits 94th in the European tour's annual rankings. The Irish champion, who sank the putt that secured the Ryder Cup, is 155th.

Other European team-mates who can also qualify are Ludvig Aberg (seventy-second) and Straka (one hundred forty-seventh).

This might question the fairness of a play-off system, which by definition is intended to bring cut-throat high-stakes drama, but this scenario also illustrates practical considerations faced by the Wentworth-based 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 amounts to substantial funding.

The talented golfer has enjoyed one of his most successful campaigns, highlighted by his first win on US territory at East Lake just under eight weeks past.

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

Common sense trumps pure competition, even though the world number five - a Dubai resident - has saved his best performances for events that do not qualify on his domestic circuit.

Fleetwood has so far played only four DP World Tour events and been unable to finish in the leading twenty at any of them; the Middle Eastern event, Scottish Open, flagship event or Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

Major championships also contribute on the season standings and his share of 16th at the Open was his only top 20 in the big four tournaments. But on the US tour he achieved seven top-five finishes.

Fleetwood was also the team's highest contributor at the New York course last month. It would be absurd for him not to be participating alongside the tour's leading stars at the end of the campaign.

Although in the previous era the American and European circuits were fierce competitors they are now closely connected thanks to the cooperative partnership that supports European tour prize funds.

As Marco Penge, recent champion of the Spanish Open, has moved into close pursuit as his nearest challenger at the top of the season championship, much of the interest for the remaining schedule will have an US focus.

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

The Lancashire golfer, who also secured invitations to the Masters and British Open with his Spanish success, is not in the India field but will launch a last effort to try to overtake McIlroy at the top of the standings.

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

Northern golfer John Parry and the Bath duo of Jordan Smith and Canter also presently hold spots that would provide a valuable opportunity for the coming season.

Certain analysts see this scenario as proof that the DP World Tour is now nothing more than a development tour for big brother on the American continent.

But the DP World Tour argue it is a crucial system that underpins their schedule, a necessary and attractive element that optimizes playing opportunities for its members.

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