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.

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Thanks for listening to Tough Lies ~ The Golfer's Podcast
~ with Colin McDougall & Richard Zokol.

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: @toughliespodcast
X: @tougliespod
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Thanks for listening to Tough Lies ~ The Golfer's Podcast
~ with Colin McDougall & Richard Zokol.

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.