Why Ryder Cup Golfers Get Automatic Access to Final DP World Tour Playoff Events

Rory McIlroy ventures into new territory by competing in India this week as he returns to competition 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 pole position to claim the season-long title for the fourth consecutive year and seventh occasion in total.

There are only three more events after the Indian event; the following week's Genesis tournament in South Korea - which wraps up the second half of the tour calendar - and then the last two competitions in the Middle East.

These particular big money playoff tournaments in the UAE capital and Dubai are exclusively available for the leading seventy and then top 50 in the standings.

However for players such as Tommy Fleetwood and Shane Lowry, who are also in this tournament lineup in the subcontinent, there is reduced stress than one would expect.

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

This results from a little publicised but pragmatic exception whereby participants of Europe's Ryder Cup team are also deemed eligible for next month's season finale events.

The English golfer, who triumphed in the PGA Tour's play-offs with his impressive win at August's Tour Championship in Georgia, sits 94th in the European tour's season-long table. The Irish champion, who made the putt that retained the Ryder Cup, is 155th.

Additional squad members who can potentially benefit are Aberg (seventy-second) and Straka (one hundred forty-seventh).

This might question the fairness of a play-off system, which by nature is supposed to bring cut-throat high-stakes drama, but this situation also demonstrates realities faced by the headquartered European circuit.

They are reliant on big backers such as the title partner, who are also the title sponsors of this current tournament in India. The tour requires the biggest stars at their premier tournaments to justify the investment, which runs to millions of dollars.

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

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

Common sense overrides pure competition, even though the world number five - a local resident - has reserved his strongest showings for events that do not qualify on his home tour.

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, UK tournament, BMW PGA Championship or Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

Major championships also contribute on the season standings and his sixteenth-place finish at the British Open was his only top 20 in the major events. However on the American-based circuit he enjoyed seven placements in the top five.

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

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

While the English golfer, recent champion of the Open De Espana, has positioned himself in McIlroy's wing mirrors as his nearest challenger at the summit of the Race to Dubai, much of the attention for the rest of the season will have an US focus.

The narrative will be driven by the competition for ten spots on the PGA Tour for those who do not already have tour cards in the US. The rising star, with three European victories, is assured of what is generally considered as advancement to the US circuit.

The Lancashire golfer, who also guaranteed invites to the Augusta National and British Open with his Madrid victory, is not in the tournament lineup but will mount a last effort to try to overhaul the leader at the top of the rankings.

Meanwhile the English competitor, the player the champion defeated in the Spanish playoff, is one of several British golfers in the midst of the competition for a future US tour card.

Yorkshireman John Parry and the West Country pair of Smith and Laurie Canter also currently occupy spots that would yield a valuable opportunity for next year.

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

However the organization maintain it is a crucial system that supports their schedule, a essential and attractive feature that optimizes competitive chances for its members.

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