Tough Lies ~ The Golfer's Podcast

A-A-Ron solves A-ron-imink!

This week on Tough Lies, Colin and Richard are joined by golf course architect Armen Suny to break down an unforgettable PGA Championship at Aronimink — where Aaron Rai delivered one of the great closing stretches in recent major history, firing a back-nine 31 to win by three shots over Jon Rahm and Alex Smalley.

The guys dive deep into the golf course itself, the setup, and why many believed modern players would overpower Aronimink — only to discover that precision, patience, and decision-making mattered far more than brute forc...

Truist Issues: Fowler, Fitzpatrick fumble while Reitan Steals the Show


This week on Tough Lies, the biggest story in golf isn’t swing mechanics — it’s self-belief.
Colin and Richard break down Kristoffer Reitan’s breakthrough win at the Truist Championship after only getting into the field because of withdrawals — and how a mindset shift toward bringing more freedom and fun back into golf may have changed everything. At one point, Reitan even considered becoming a golf YouTuber before rediscovering confidence in his game and outlasting Rickie Fowler and Matt Fitzpatrick at Quail Hollow.

The guys als...

Tiger Woods & Insights About Addiction in Elite Sport

This week on Tough Lies, the conversation goes beyond the leaderboard.

Colin and Richard are joined by Dean Anderson to explore addiction in professional sport, using Tiger Woods as a lens to understand the intersection of chronic injury, pressure, fame, and recovery. From high-profile incidents to the broader realities athletes face, the discussion focuses on what addiction really looks like — and what it takes to overcome it.

They then turn to the PGA Tour, including a return to Doral, **Ca...

This Shouldn’t Count as a Win… But It Does

Nelly Korda continues her quiet dominance, winning the Chevron Championship by five shots and reinforcing her place as the top American player of her generation.

But on the PGA Tour, things were far less straightforward.

This week on Tough Lies, Colin and Richard break down the bizarre but compelling finish at the Zurich Classic, where Matt and Alex Fitzpatrick blew a four-shot lead on the back nine — only to make a clutch birdie on the 18...

LIV’in On A Prayer! + Fitz Outduels Sheffler

The week after the Masters shifts the spotlight to Harbour Town — and a very different kind of test — where Matt Fitzpatrick outduels Scottie Scheffler on the first playoff hole. 

This week on Tough Lies, Colin and Richard break down what happened on Sunday, why Harbour Town continues to expose even the best players, and how Pete Dye’s design philosophy reshaped the way the game is played.

The deeper dive conversation focuses on one of the biggest questions in professional golf right now: what happens next with...

Rory McIlroy’s Wild Masters Win (From 6-Shot Collapse to Champion)

Rory McIlroy had a six-shot lead after 36 holes at Augusta — and by Saturday afternoon, it was gone.

In this Masters reaction episode of Tough Lies, Colin and Richard break down one of the most dramatic weeks at Augusta in recent memory, from McIlroy’s early dominance to his Saturday collapse, and ultimately, a gritty Sunday performance that saw him fight his way back and close it out under pressure.

They’re joined by former P...

Special Masters Episode!!!! 
Weir, Augusta, and Winning The Green Jacket

There are moments in golf that define a career — and then there are moments that define a country.

In this special Masters episode of Tough Lies, Colin and Richard sit down with Mike Weir to revisit one of the most iconic weeks in golf history — his unforgettable victory at Augusta National.

From the pressure of Sunday at the Masters to the shots that shaped the tournament, Weir takes us inside what it really feels like to win a green jacket. But beyond the h...

Spaun Strikes Oil in Texas, The Wait For Augusta Is OVER! — with special guest Lorne Rubenstein

It’s Masters week!!! — the first major of the year and the unmistakable signal that golf season has officially arrived.

This week on Tough Lies, Colin and Richard recap J.J. Spaun’s gritty win at the Valero Texas Open, where a simple mindset adjustment helped him chase down the field from seven shots back on the back nine. It’s a performance that reinforces one of golf’s toughest truths: you don’t need your best game to win.

The...

Vulnerability, Victory, and the Rise of Canadian Professional Golf 

Gary Woodland’s emotional win in Houston was about more than golf — it was about resilience, clarity, and the search for something deeper than results. This week on Tough Lies, Colin and Richard unpack Woodland’s journey, what it means to play with freedom, and why some players are able to carry momentum while others unravel under pressure.

They’re joined by Paul Perrier, Chief Sport Officer at Golf Canada, for a fascinating look at why Canada is producing elite players a...

Tough Lies ~ The Golfer's Podcast ~ Episode 11 ~ Resiliency, Rollbacks and What’s New in Equipment for 2026! 

Matt Fitzpatrick turned heartbreak into victory at the Valspar Championship, bouncing back from a tough loss at The Players with a disciplined, methodical performance that highlights what separates elite competitors from the rest.

This week on Tough Lies, Colin and Richard break down Fitzpatrick’s response, the strategic challenge of Innisbrook, and the growing issue of slow play — including a rare moment where a Tour official was called in mid-round.

The guys also run through a packed week across...

Tough Lies ~ The Golfer's Podcast ~ Episode 10 ~ Full Send at Sawgrass - Incredible 375 Yard Drive Wins The Players for Cam Young

This week on Tough Lies, Colin and Richard break down the closing stretch at Sawgrass, from Young’s fearless execution to Ludvig Åberg’s costly mistakes, and Sudarshan Yellamaraju’s remarkable T5 finish after learning the game on YouTube without ever taking a lesson.

They’re also joined by golf course architect Armen Suny (Suny Zokol Golf Design) for a deep dive into course design, major championship setups, and the subtle but critical differences between how the U...

Tough Lies ~ The Golfer's Podcast ~ Episode 9 ~ Bhatia Brings It At Bay Hill + Monopoly, Power and the PGA Tour

Akshay Bhatia captured a dramatic playoff victory at Bay Hill — despite never holding the lead during regulation — raising an intriguing question about tournament golf: is it actually easier to chase than to protect a lead?

This week on Tough Lies, Colin and Richard break down Bhatia’s win over Daniel Berger, the psychology of playing with a lead, and how players mentally prepare for the sudden-death pressure of a playoff. They also look ahead to The Players Champi...

Tough Lies ~ The Golfer's Podcast ~ Episode 8 ~ Lowry Caught By The Bear Trap & What’s Missing From The Champions Tour

A double-double in the Bear Trap.

A four-year-old watching her father try to close.

A calm winner while chaos unfolds.

This week on Tough Lies, we break down Shane Lowry’s collapse, Nico’s composure, Brooke’s putting, and the stars align at Seminole 

Then we zoom out.

The Champions Tour once gave second acts to grinders and working-class dreamers. Today? The door feels locked.

Colin shares hi...

Tough Lies ~ The Golfer's Podcast ~ Episode 7 ~  “Do You Feel Lucky?” — Bridgeman Survives Riviera with One Bullet Left

Jacob Bridgeman nearly coughs up a six-shot lead at Riviera — but gets the ‘W’

Why is closing so much harder than chasing?

We break down the Genesis Invitational, Aldrich Potgieter’s emergence, and Rory’s latest close call — then pivot to the bigger tension: Jon Rahm, the DP World Tour standoff, and what it means for the Ryder Cup. 

Then we cut to:

Why players love Riviera (it’s the design, silly)

What should a cou...

Augusta National continues to shape modern professional and amateur golf. It positions itself as guardian of tradition and steward of the game.

But when its name surfaces in the Epstein files — even peripherally as it did this week — should it remain untouchable?

If you influence the sport’s moral tone, its media access, and its power structure, do you also owe transparency when uncomfortable associations appear?

We examine what was actually disclosed, whether membership accountability is ever discussed publicly, and whether Augusta’s mystique relies on insulation from scrutiny.

Then...

Did the PGA Tour almost have a players’ union — and why does that history matter as the Tour moves toward a for-profit structure?

In this episode of Tough Lies: The Golfer’s Podcast, we begin with a look at what unfolded on Tour this week, including the Waste Management Phoenix Open, Canadians on Tour, the Korn Ferry Tour, and ongoing concerns about fan behavior crossing the line.

The core of the episode is a deep dive into the PGA Tour’s evolution from a player-run non-profit to a commercially driven sports enterprise. Through that lens, we revis...

Equal swings. Unequal pay. In Episode 4 of Tough Lies, we dig into the LPGA - PGA pay disparity and why it persists in a sport that loves to call itself merit-based. Colin floats a few potential solutions that are bound to spark debate - and maybe, just maybe, move the conversation forward. 

Deep Dive - Blades Brown and the potential perils of being a young golf phenom.

The "Returning Players" program for the PGA Tour.

Zokol and McDougall dive deep into the Ryder Cup and talk Rory McIlroy and Colin Morikawa, plus lots more!

Tough Lies – The Golfer’s Podcast is where golf’s harder conversations finally get airtime.

Hosted by PGA Tour veteran Richard Zokol and marketing strategist Colin McDougall, Tough Lies goes beyond equipment launches and leaderboard chatter to explore the real issues shaping the modern game — from the mental side of competition and modern professional golf, to the narratives and assumptions shaping the game, questioned thoughtfully, critically, and constructively.

Each episode blends insider perspective with candid conversation, featuring stories from inside the ropes, lessons learned the hard way, and thoughtful takes on where the game is headed —...