The Golfer's Podcast
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.
All Episodes

Latest Episodes

All Episodes
#17

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

This Shouldn’t Count as a Win… But It DoesNelly 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: @toughliespodcastX: @tougliespodTikTok: @ToughLiesPodThanks for listening to Tough Lies ~ The Golfer's Podcast ~ with Colin McDougall & Richard Zokol.
#14

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

Special Masters Episode!!!! Weir, Augusta, and Winning The Green JacketThere 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: @ToughLiesPodThanks for listening to Tough Lies ~ The Golfer's Podcast ~ with Colin McDougall & Richard Zokol.
#13

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 RubensteinIt’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: @ToughLiesPodThanks 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.”