The Australian golfer, Greg Norman, yesterday angrily dismissed claims he was implicated in the presidential sex scandal and staunchly defended his friend, President Clinton.
"I think it's really sad . . . I don't think anyone should go through this," Norman said.
"What he does in his private life is his business and I think he should just go on and run the country the way he wants to run it," he told reporters.
US media reports said the independent counsel, Mr Kenneth Starr, had subpoenaed television footage of Mr Clinton's visit to Norman's home in Florida last year, looking for film of the President with Ms Lewinsky.
Norman, speaking at his own golf tournament in Sydney, emphatically denied that Ms Lewinsky had ever visited his home and said he had never seen her. He complained that American reporters had three times invaded his privacy on private Florida property. "I was quite upset about it," he said.
His annoyance showing, Norman said he had been told yesterday the videotapes had been reviewed and were clear.
Mr Clinton's visit to Norman's Florida home became a big news story when the President stumbled down a short flight of stairs and had to undergo emergency surgery on his knee.
Norman said the furore was putting him off his game.