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The Northern Irish golfer ventures into new territory by competing in India this week as he returns to action for the initial occasion since the prestigious team event.

As the Northern Irishman expands his competitive experience, the DP World Tour enters the closing stage of this year's Race to Dubai. The world-class golfer is in the leading spot to claim the season-long title for the fourth consecutive year and seventh time overall.

There are only three additional tournaments after the India Championship; the subsequent week's Genesis Championship in Korean venue - which wraps up the 'Back Nine' phase of the schedule - and then the last two competitions in the Arabian region.

These high-stakes playoff tournaments in Abu Dhabi and Dubai are reserved for the leading seventy and then top 50 in the season rankings.

However for players such as Tommy Fleetwood and Lowry, who are also in this week's field in the subcontinent, there is less pressure than you might imagine.

Sitting below the seventieth position, at first glance it would appear both require high finishes from their visit to the Indian course to extend their campaigns. Yet, in fact, they are guaranteed in advance of their places in the UAE 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 closing tournaments.

The English golfer, who triumphed in the PGA Tour's play-offs with his stirring victory at August's Tour Championship in Atlanta, lies ninety-fourth in the European tour's annual rankings. The Irish champion, who made the winning stroke that retained the team trophy, is one hundred fifty-fifth.

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

This might challenge the integrity of a play-off system, which by nature is intended to bring intense competitive jeopardy, but this scenario also illustrates practical considerations faced by the Wentworth-based DP World Tour.

They are reliant on major sponsors such as DP World, who are also the title sponsors of this current tournament in India. They need the top players at their biggest events to justify the financial commitment, which runs to millions of dollars.

The talented golfer has experienced one of his most successful campaigns, highlighted by his maiden victory on American soil at the Atlanta course just under two months ago.

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

Practical considerations overrides competitive integrity, even though the top-ranked player - a Dubai 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 place in the top 20 at any of them; the Dubai Desert Classic, Scottish Open, flagship event or pro-am competition.

The majors also contribute on the Race to Dubai and his sixteenth-place finish at the British Open was his sole high finish 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 the New York course last month. It would be ridiculous for him not to be participating with the circuit's top performers at the end of the campaign.

Although in the past the American and European circuits were fierce competitors they are now closely connected thanks to the cooperative partnership that underpins European tour financial rewards.

While Marco Penge, last week's winner of the Open De Espana, has positioned himself in close pursuit as his nearest challenger at the summit of the season championship, much of the attention for the rest of the season will have an US focus.

The narrative will be shaped by the scramble for 10 places on the PGA Tour for those who do not currently possess playing rights in the US. Penge, with three European victories, is guaranteed of what is generally considered as 'promotion' to the American tour.

The Clitheroe-based pro, who also secured invitations to the Augusta National and British Open with his Spanish success, is not in the India field but will mount a last effort to try to overtake McIlroy at the top of the rankings.

Meanwhile the English competitor, the man the champion beat in the Madrid play-off, is one of four other Britons in the thick of the battle for a future US tour card.

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

Some observers view this development as evidence that the DP World Tour is now nothing more than a feeder for the larger circuit on the other side of the pond.

However the organization maintain it is a crucial system that supports their tour calendar, a necessary and attractive feature that maximises competitive chances for its members.

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