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 Championship, discussing which Canadians appear best suited to the unique strategic demands of TPC Sawgrass.
Elsewhere, Ricky Castillo breaks through at the Puerto Rico Open, Blades Brown continues to generate buzz as one of the game’s most promising young players, and Canadian players quietly show impressive depth in the field.
The show’s deep dive explores something rarely discussed in professional golf: the real cost of holding a PGA Tour card. From image and likeness rights to tournament travel expenses, restrictions on competing elsewhere, and the Tour’s control over media and scheduling, Colin and Richard examine whether the system begins to resemble something closer to a monopolistic structure than most fans realize.
The episode also features the Mindtrak Mental Golf Moment, focusing on how elite players manage momentum during weather delays — and how they restart mentally when play resumes.
Plus: Colin shares stories from Bay Hill, and Richard returns in from Mexico… where the golf may be good, but the Wi-Fi and laptop situation were decidedly less reliable.
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.
What is Tough Lies ~ The Golfer's Podcast?
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.