Tough Lies ~ The Golfer's Podcast

Colin McDougall & Richard Zokol
  • 5.0 (1)
  • Golf

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 — and why. This isn’t hot takes for clicks. It’s honest dialogue, grounded experience, and constructive debate — for golfers who love the game enough to question it. If you’ve ever thought “someone should talk about this” while watching golf… this is that podcast.

  1. May 20

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

    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 force.  Armen shares insights from being onsite throughout the week, including reactions from players like Rory McIlroy and Shane Lowry, who openly questioned aspects of the setup after struggling to gain an advantage with the driver. The episode also explores:     •    Why Aaron Rai’s strategic use of 3-wood may have won him the championship     •    Ongoing questions around Bryson DeChambeau after another missed cut     •    Whether LIV players are losing competitive sharpness in major championships     •    And what great championship architecture is actually supposed to do Plus: a MindTRAK moment on Nick Taylor learning the way to navigate the back 9 at a major Because under major pressure, the golf course always exposes what you truly trust. Subscribe: https://toughliespodcast.transistor.fm Instagram: @toughliespodcastX: @tougliespodTikTok: @ToughLiesPod Thanks for listening to Tough Lies ~ The Golfer's Podcast ~ with Colin McDougall & Richard Zokol.

    47 min
  2. Truist Issues: Fowler, Fitzpatrick fumble while Reitan Steals the Show

    May 12

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

    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 also dive into:    •    Rory McIlroy living and dying with the driver after a disastrous third round    •    Alex Fitzpatrick continuing to “walk the gauntlet” of learning how to contend at the highest level    •    Why Brandt Snedeker won for the first time in 8 years with the same core ingredient: belief The heart of the episode is a deeper conversation around the power of self-belief in golf:    •    How elite players build confidence    •    Why most golfers wait for results before believing in themselves The episode also explores:    •    Brian Rolapp’s comments on the future of the PGA Tour and LIV Golf    •    New PGA Tour social media policies Plus: a MindTRAK moment on walking the gauntlet and how it often takes experiencing failure to find your way through it.
Because in golf, belief comes before the results do. Subscribe: https://toughliespodcast.transistor.fm Instagram: @toughliespodcastX: @tougliespodTikTok: @ToughLiesPod Thanks for listening to Tough Lies ~ The Golfer's Podcast ~ with Colin McDougall & Richard Zokol.

    59 min

  3. May 5

    Tiger Woods & Insights About Addiction in Elite Sport

    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, **Cameron Young’s response to adversity (MindTRAK Moment), and ongoing questions around Signature Events and the Returning Members Program. In the broader golf landscape, the guys break down uncertainty surrounding LIV Golf’s future and what shifting leadership could mean for the game. Plus: **Stewart Cink vs. **Nelly Korda — who’s hotter right now? — and a reflection on how addiction has impacted legends like **George Knudson. “Because the toughest lies in golf aren’t always on the course.” Subscribe: https://toughliespodcast.transistor.fm  Instagram: @toughliespodcast X: @tougliespod TikTok: @ToughLiesPod Thanks for listening to Tough Lies ~ The Golfer's Podcast  ~ with Colin McDougall & Richard Zokol.

    1 hr
  4. This Shouldn’t Count as a Win… But It Does

    Apr 28

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

    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 18th hole to win. The victory comes with controversy, as Alex entered on a sponsor’s exemption and now earns a two-year PGA Tour exemption along with entry into elevated events and major championships. The conversation then turns to a bigger question: does team golf actually work at the professional level? While formats like the Ryder Cup and Solheim Cup thrive on identity and meaning, events like Zurich — and the broader LIV team model — continue to struggle for relevance. Colin teases a different vision for how team golf could work in the future. The guys also touch on changes within the PGA Tour, including staffing cuts under new CEO Brian Rolapp and evolving rules that may be reshaping how the game is played. Plus: stories from New Orleans, a look at alternative scoring formats, and a MindTRAK moment on why pressure — not format — ultimately defines great golf. “Because the toughest lies in golf aren’t always on the course.” Subscribe: https://toughliespodcast.transistor.fm  Instagram: @toughliespodcast X: @tougliespod TikTok: @ToughLiesPod Thanks for listening to Tough Lies ~ The Golfer's Podcast  ~ with Colin McDougall & Richard Zokol.

    45 min

  5. Apr 21

    LIV’in On A Prayer! + Fitz Outduels Sheffler

    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 LIV? With reports suggesting uncertainty around long-term funding, the guys dig into what it could mean for players, the Tour, and the future structure of the game. Plus: a MindTRAK moment on why failure to prepare is the fastest path to being exposed — and a quick detour into Colin’s first experience with “Birdie Juice”… which may or may not have improved his on-course performance…… “Because the toughest lies in golf aren’t always on the course.” Subscribe: https://toughliespodcast.transistor.fm Instagram: @toughliespodcastX: @tougliespodTikTok: @ToughLiesPod Thanks for listening to Tough Lies ~ The Golfer's Podcast ~ with Colin McDougall & Richard Zokol.

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

    Apr 14

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

    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 PGA Tour player Rick Fehr, who brings an inside-the-ropes perspective on what it actually feels like when someone takes a huge tournament lead - how it can affect your game and lead to bad decision making. Together, they unpack the chaos across the leaderboard, fill Brad Faxon’s inbox and have a great conversation about the power of searching for higher learning in golf and life. Plus: a MindTRAK mental moment on Rory’s shot routine, the role of trust versus control under pressure, and why winning at Augusta is less about perfection — and more about how you respond when things fall apart. “Because the toughest lies in golf aren’t always on the course.” Subscribe: https://toughliespodcast.transistor.fm Instagram: @toughliespodcastX: @tougliespodTikTok: @ToughLiesPod Thanks for listening to Tough Lies ~ The Golfer's Podcast ~ with Colin McDougall & Richard Zokol.

    1h 2m

  7. Apr 8

    Special MASTERS Episode!!!! Mike Weir, Augusta, and Winning The Green Jacket

    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 highlights, this is a conversation about what it takes to handle the moment — the preparation, the mindset, and the ability to stay present when everything is on the line. The discussion also turns to the current state of the game, including a candid reflection on Tiger Woods and his recent issues off the course — and a deeper question about where concern, accountability, and perspective should really lie when it comes to one of golf’s most iconic figures. And in a uniquely Canadian moment, Weir shares what it was like to drop the puck at a Toronto Maple Leafs game while wearing the green jacket — a surreal intersection of sport, country, and legacy. It’s a rare look inside Augusta through the eyes of a champion — and a reminder that the Masters isn’t just about great golf, it’s about how you respond when the moment finds you. “Because the toughest lies in golf aren’t always on the course.” Subscribe: https://toughliespodcast.transistor.fm Instagram: @toughliespodcastX: @tougliespodTikTok: @ToughLiesPod Thanks for listening to Tough Lies ~ The Golfer's Podcast ~ with Colin McDougall & Richard Zokol.

    39 min
  8. Spaun Strikes Oil in Texas, The Wait For Augusta Is OVER!

    Apr 7

    Spaun Strikes Oil in Texas, The Wait For Augusta Is OVER!

    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. They also run through a busy week across professional golf, including a clutch closing stretch from Jeremy Gandon and continued consistency from Canadian players like Sudarshan Yellamaraju and A.J. Ewart, who keep stacking results and building momentum. Then, with Augusta National front and center, they’re joined by one of golf’s most respected voices — Lorne Rubenstein, a true sage of the game whose decades of writing and storytelling bring rare perspective and wisdom. From the evolving structure of the PGA Tour to the debate around distance and rollback, Lorne shares his view on where the game stands today — and where it may be headed. The conversation then turns to The Masters: what defines success at Augusta, who fits the course this week, and whether a Canadian could be in the mix. Plus: a MindTRAK mental moment on playing without your best — and why acceptance, not perfection, might be the most important skill in golf. Subscribe: https://toughliespodcast.transistor.fm Instagram: @toughliespodcastX: @tougliespodTikTok: @ToughLiesPod Thanks for listening to Tough Lies ~ The Golfer's Podcast ~ with Colin McDougall & Richard Zokol. “Because the toughest lies in golf aren’t always on the course.”

    56 min
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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 — and why. This isn’t hot takes for clicks. It’s honest dialogue, grounded experience, and constructive debate — for golfers who love the game enough to question it. If you’ve ever thought “someone should talk about this” while watching golf… this is that podcast.

Information

  • Creator
    Colin McDougall & Richard Zokol
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    21
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © Tough Lies ~ The Golfer's Podcast

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