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.

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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.

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.