Tommy Fleetwood led with four points, Shane Lowry remained unbeaten and McIlroy contributed 3½ points
The Northern Irish golfer breaks new ground by competing in India this week as he makes his comeback to action for the initial occasion since the Ryder Cup.
While the Northern Irishman expands his golfing horizons, the DP World Tour enters the final phase of this year's season-long championship. The world-class golfer is in the leading spot to secure the annual championship for the fourth season running and seventh time overall.
There are only three additional tournaments following the India Championship; the following week's Genesis tournament in South Korea - which concludes 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 leading fifty in the season rankings.
But for the likes of Fleetwood and Shane Lowry, who are also in this tournament lineup in India, there is reduced stress than one would expect.
Comfortably outside the top 70, at initial inspection it would seem both need high finishes from their trip to the Indian course to keep alive their campaigns. But, actually, they are already assured of their places in the UAE and the final event.
This results from a little publicised but practical loophole whereby members of the European squad are also deemed qualified for the upcoming closing tournaments.
Fleetwood, who triumphed in the PGA Tour's play-offs with his stirring win at the season-ending event in Georgia, lies ninety-fourth in the European tour's annual rankings. Lowry, who sank the winning stroke that secured the team trophy, is 155th.
Additional European team-mates who can potentially benefit are Aberg (72nd) and Straka (one hundred forty-seventh).
This might question the integrity of a play-off system, which by definition is supposed to bring cut-throat high-stakes drama, but this scenario also illustrates realities faced by the Wentworth-based DP World Tour.
The tour is dependent on major sponsors such as the title partner, who are also the naming sponsors of this week's event in India. They need the top players at their premier tournaments to justify the investment, which amounts to substantial funding.
The talented golfer has experienced one of his most successful seasons, capped by his first win on US territory at the Atlanta course just under two months ago.
Fleetwood represents one of the continent's elite players and, frankly, it would be inconceivable to host the upcoming season climax without him.
Practical considerations overrides competitive integrity, even though the top-ranked player - a local resident - has saved his strongest showings for events that do not qualify on his home tour.
The Englishman has to date played only four European tournaments and been unable to place in the leading twenty at any tournament; the Dubai Desert Classic, 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 major events. However on the American-based circuit he achieved seven placements in the top five.
Fleetwood was also Europe's top points scorer at the New York course last month. It seems absurd for him not to be participating alongside the tour's leading stars at the conclusion of the campaign.
While in the previous era the American and European circuits were deadly rivals they are now closely connected thanks to the cooperative partnership that supports DP World Tour financial rewards.
As the English golfer, last week's winner of the Spanish Open, has positioned himself in close pursuit as his nearest challenger at the summit of the season championship, much of the interest for the remaining schedule will have an American bias.
The storyline will be driven by the competition for ten spots on the PGA Tour for those who do not already have tour cards in the United States. Penge, with three European victories, is assured of what is generally considered as 'promotion' to the US circuit.
The Lancashire golfer, who also guaranteed invites to the Masters and Open with his Madrid victory, is not in the tournament lineup but will launch a last effort to try to overhaul the leader at the top of the rankings.
Meanwhile Dan Brown, the man the champion beat in the Spanish playoff, is one of several British golfers in the midst of the battle for a 2026 PGA card.
Northern golfer Parry and the Bath duo of Jordan Smith and Canter also currently occupy spots that would provide a golden ticket for the coming season.
Some observers view this development as proof that the European circuit 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 underpins their tour calendar, a essential and enticing element that optimizes competitive chances for its participants.
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.
