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Wie West slams Giuliani's 'inappropriate' remarks about putting stance

Streeter Lecka/PGA of America / PGA of America / Getty

Michelle Wie West issued a scathing response to Rudy Giuliani after the former New York City mayor told an inappropriate story about her earlier in the week.

Giuliani made the remarks during an appearance on Steve Bannon's "War Room" podcast on Thursday. Giuliani, who is now an attorney to ex-president Donald Trump, recounted playing golf with Wie West and the late Rush Limbaugh. Giuliani said he joked to the longtime radio personality that paparazzi following them around the golf course were only there to photograph Wie West.

"On the green is Michele Wie, and she is getting ready to putt," Giuliani said, according to ESPN's Bob Harig. "Now Michelle Wie is gorgeous. She's 6 feet. And she has a strange putting stance. She bends all the way over. And her panties show. And the press was going crazy. ... I said, '(Rush), it's not me, it's not you.'"

After finishing his story, Giuliani apparently asked Bannon if he was allowed to "tell that joke." The host awkwardly replied, "We already told it, so I don't know."

Wie West fired back by posting a statement to her Twitter account Friday.

"It's unsettling to hear of this highly inappropriate story shared on a podcast by a public figure referencing my 'panties' whilst playing in a charity pro-am," she wrote. "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. I shudder thinking that he was smiling to my face and complimenting me on 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 U.S. Open that year), not as an invitation to look up my skirt!"

Wie West, 31, has won five tournaments on the LPGA Tour. She's also made several appearances in men's tournaments, including PGA Tour events, over her career.

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