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| Michelle Wie / AP |
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While not referencing Donald Trump's former lawyer by name, Wie West's Twitter response to an "unsettling" and "highly inappropriate story" followed Giuliani's appearance on Steve Bannon's War Room podcast on Thursday.
Giuliani was speaking to Bannon about US rightwing talk radio host Rush Limbaugh, who had died the same day, when he told a story about Wie at a charity golf event in 2014.
The 76-year-old spoke about the fundraiser where he played with Wie West and Limbaugh, who Giuliani said had complained about paparazzi interest at the event. Giuliani said he told Limbaugh that the photographers were there for West.
"On the green is Michelle Wie and she is getting ready to putt," he told Bannon. "Now Michelle Wie is gorgeous. She's six feet. And she has a strange putting stance. She bends all the way over. And her panties show. And the press was going crazy ... They were trying to take pictures of her panties ... I said '[Rush], It's not me, it's not you. It's her panties.'"
Giuliani then asked Bannon, "Is it OK to tell that joke?" with the host pointing out it had already been told.
Wie responded in no uncertain terms on Twitter on Friday, though she did not refer directly to Giuliani but a "public figure".
"What this person should have remembered from that day was the fact that I shot 64 and beat every male golfer in the field leading our team to victory,'' she wrote. "I shudder thinking he was smiling to my face and complimenting my game while objectifying me and referencing my 'panties' behind my back all day.
"What should be discussed is the elite skill level that women play at, not what we wear or look like. My putting stance six years ago was designed to improve my putting stats (I ended up winning the US Open that year), NOT as an invitation to look up my skirt!"
Former LPGA player Jeehae Lee offered support to her friend Wie.
"Rational and mature and fact-based response to disgusting lies that attempted to objectify a world-class athlete. Proud of my friend," she wrote.
Elsewhere, golf broadcaster Amanda Balionis was among a number of journalists to support Wie's response.
"Amazing to me that this person feels THIS entitled to say something that wasn't even a joke and ― more importantly ― showcases that there is still a very real group of powerful men who think of women as simply things to look at & objectify. Shoot 64? Win a major? Nope, panties," she wrote on Twitter.
The LPGA, of which Wie West is a five-time winner, and the United States Golf Association, also offered their support.
"Sexism has no place in golf or in life," the USGA wrote on Twitter. "We are always in your corner.''
The LGPA pointed to Wie's achievements as a major champion, LGPA board member, Stanford graduate and working mother.
Wie, 31, has been on maternity leave since last June after giving birth to daughter Makenna Kamalei Yoona West.
The golfer has been in the public eye for more than two decades, rising to fame when she played the PGA Tour Sony Open aged 14.
