ESPN Golf

LEMONT, Ill. -- The competition resumed Thursday, but that didn't stop the chatter about the controversial FedEx Cup playoffs, which have caused their fair share of consternation among the PGA Tour's elite.

The BMW Championship, the third of four playoff events, began at Cog Hill Golf & Country Club without Phil Mickelson but with plenty of discussion about how this whole thing came about, who had input and the fixes that need to be made next year.

While the absence of a top player for the third straight week might signal indifference toward the whole concept to some followers, the leaderboard through one round at Cog Hill at least suggests that a $7-million purse and the chance to move onto another $7-million tournament next week at the Tour Championship is still a big lure. At least for some.

"I want to play next week," said Jonathan Byrd, who is 30th in the FedEx Cup points standings -- with only the top 30 advancing to East Lake in Atlanta. "It's really important to get in the Tour Championship. It's a tournament I've never played in. I've never made the top 30, I'm competitive. I want to be there."

Byrd put himself in good position by shooting 7-under 64 to take a one-stroke lead over Justin Rose and Camilo Villegas. Another stroke back was Stewart Cink, who very much would like to be part of his hometown event next week.

Cink entered the tournament in 32nd place in the points standings, just 371 points behind Byrd. David Toms, who is 31st, played in the same threesome with Byrd and Cink and shot 72. All three players' chances of making it to East Lake improved with the withdrawal of 29th-ranked Arron Oberholser, who bowed out after nine holes with wrist and hand injuries.

"I don't think that accomplishes anything, me thinking about where I stand on the list," Cink said. "The best way to play golf is to simplify everything down to what it is, which is shot by shot. I tend to play a little better. That was the key today. I don't see why I should start thinking about my position. It's important. But it's not the right way to go about it."

Cink also would say that complaining in the middle of the FedEx Cup playoffs about the perceived problems might not be the right way to go about it, either.

He's heard the chirping, especially from the game's elite. Mickelson said after his victory at the Deutsche Bank Championship on Monday that pushed him into the FedEx Cup lead that he had issues with PGA Tour commissioner Tim Finchem the handling of the competition.

Tiger Woods, who shot a first-round 67, skipped the opening playoff event, The Barclays, and has wondered about the jam-packed schedule that requires a commitment of seven big events in nine weeks if you were to play in everything.

And then there was Ernie Els, who skipped last week's Deutsche Bank Championship, wondering when and where all these things were decided.

"Unfortunately, we are in this position now because they didn't either listen or they just went on with the decision, and this is where we are," said Els, who opened with 73.

Cink, 34, who is a player director on the PGA Tour policy board, shakes his head.

"If you don't know, it's your own fault," he said. "We tried to educate everybody and some people are just not 'educatable,' if that's a word. I'm not saying it's a perfect system. But if you don't know, you can't go blaming anyone else. You just can't. You have to look at it for what it is. We're talking about the same tournaments we've played for however many years. They're at a different time of year, but they're the same tournaments. And we're basically looking at free money. Are you going to really complain about that?"

Cink was referring to the fact that not only do these playoff events have $7-milion purses, but the last two have no cuts and guaranteed paydays. Then there is the bonus pool of $35 million, with $10 million going to the overall winner of the FedEx Cup. Those bonuses are being paid in the form of deferred compensation and will be placed tax free into each player's retirement account.

Some, including Woods, Mickelson and Els, believe it would be more exciting if the bonus were paid immediately in cash.

Cink said the subject has been discussed for a year.

"It is a little frustrating when players complain about it because we all knew what was going to happen," he said. "I understand that not everybody likes to play four tournaments in a row. I don't have a complaint about that at all. I don't love playing this many in a row. But it is what it is.

"To complain about it while it's going on is nothing but undermining the situation. Let's file our complaints after it's over with. Let's see how good we can make it now and then complain about it later and use the complaints to sort of has things over and maybe improve it."

Cink acknowledged that the criticism has stolen some of the attention from what have been two pretty compelling tournaments. And the third appears to be on its way, as the total field is cut to just 30 for next week.

For Cink, there is still some work to do in that regard.

"A few more rounds like that will probably do the job," he said. "But I'm more happy about having a shot at being in contention here. I want to play the best I can in this tournament."

Bob Harig is a frequent contributor to ESPN.com. He can be reached at BobHarig@gmail.com.