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The Northern Irish golfer breaks new ground by competing in the Indian tournament this week as he makes his comeback to competition for the initial occasion since the prestigious team event.

As the golf superstar widens his golfing horizons, the DP World Tour begins the closing stage of this year's Race to Dubai. The world-class golfer is in pole position to claim the annual championship for the fourth season running and seventh time overall.

This includes only three more events following the Indian event; 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 Middle East.

These particular big money playoff tournaments in the UAE capital and the emirate are exclusively available for the top 70 and then leading fifty in the season rankings.

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

Sitting below the top 70, at initial inspection it would appear both need strong performances from their visit to the Indian course to extend their campaigns. But, in fact, they are guaranteed in advance of their positions in the UAE and the final event.

This is due to a rarely discussed but practical exception whereby participants of Europe's Ryder Cup team are also deemed qualified for next month's season finale events.

The English golfer, who triumphed in the PGA Tour's play-offs with his impressive victory at the season-ending event in Georgia, lies ninety-fourth in the European tour's season-long table. Lowry, who sank the putt that secured the Ryder Cup, is one hundred fifty-fifth.

Other European team-mates who can potentially benefit are Ludvig Aberg (72nd) and Straka (one hundred forty-seventh).

This might question the integrity of a playoff structure, which by nature is supposed to bring intense high-stakes drama, but this situation also illustrates realities faced by the Wentworth-based DP World Tour.

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

The talented golfer has enjoyed one of his best campaigns, capped by his first win on American soil at East Lake just under two months ago.

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

Common sense trumps pure competition, even though the top-ranked player - a local resident - has reserved his best performances for events that do not qualify on his home tour.

The Englishman has so far played only four European tournaments and been unable to place in the leading twenty at any of them; the Dubai Desert Classic, Scottish Open, BMW PGA Championship or Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

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 major events. However on the US tour he achieved seven top-five finishes.

The European star was also the team's highest contributor at the New York course last month. It would be ridiculous for him not to be participating with the tour's leading stars at the conclusion of the season.

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

As the English golfer, last week's winner of the Open De Espana, has moved into close pursuit as his nearest challenger at the top of the season championship, much of the attention for the rest of the season will have an American bias.

The narrative will be shaped by the competition for 10 places on the PGA Tour for those who do not already have playing rights in the US. The rising star, with three European victories, is guaranteed of what is generally considered as 'promotion' to the US circuit.

The Lancashire golfer, who also secured invitations to the Augusta National and Open with his Madrid victory, is not in the tournament lineup but will launch a last effort to try to overtake McIlroy at the peak of the standings.

And Dan Brown, the player the champion defeated in the Madrid play-off, is one of several British golfers in the thick of the battle for a future US tour card.

Northern golfer Parry and the Bath duo of Jordan Smith and Canter also currently occupy spots that would yield a golden ticket for next year.

Some observers see this development as proof that the European circuit is now nothing more than a development tour for the larger circuit on the other side of the pond.

But the organization argue it is a vital mechanism that supports their schedule, a essential and enticing feature that maximises playing opportunities for its participants.

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