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To say that Jeff Maggert is in the middle of an interesting year is like saying that winning the Power Ball was kinda cool.

Until Houston, Jeff Maggert had gone over two months without playing on the weekend. (WireImage)

No, he's not burning up the winner's circle or even making every cut. But between impromptu Presidential visits, broken bones, and twin 2 year-olds, the 43-year-old is, again, having one heck of an interesting year.

And, as he is among the six leaders at 6-under par headed into the weekend of the Shell Houston Open, it's sure to get even more colorful.

Prior to the start of the 2007 season, the Houston resident slipped on a sheet of ice while on vacation and broke a rib. Only he didn't know it. In pain and unaware of the severity of the situation, he made the trip to Hawaii and competed in the Mercedes-Benz Championship and Sony Open. A second round 65 at Waialae Country Club helped propel Maggert to a top 20 finish.

"I tried to go out in Phoenix but wound up re-injuring the rib," Maggert said. "I decided to take as much time off as I could until it healed."

He did just that. "My doctor gave me some good advice on what to do with the time off," Maggert said. "He wanted me to be in the gym and work with weights and do certain exercises to keep the ribcage muscles strong."

After that four week hiatus, Maggert descended upon Florida, but a rusty game led to three consecutive missed cuts. But when he returned home to Houston for the Shell Houston Open, that all changed.

An opening round 67 put the hometown favorite just one shot off the lead. A 1-under par 71 in Round 2 was enough to move him into a tie for the lead with five others, including defending champion, Stuart Appleby.

"Sometimes, when your expectations are low, you play better," Maggert said. "My game plan is to play a little more conservative and steady and take what I get."

And what he gets this week is a share of the lead, home-cooked meals in the comfort of his own home with the family. Oh yeah, that and a surprise visit Wednesday by former President George Bush, with whom Maggert has teed it up with on a number of occasions over the years.

"He (Bush) is the kind of guy you spend a few hours with and it's like you've known him your whole life," Maggert said. "I was obviously nervous, but he made me feel so welcome and he even called me on several other occasions while at home."

Maggert remembers those times vividly. "Once, I answered the phone and someone said 'There's a call from President Bush on the line, will you accept?''," Maggert said. "You kinda go, 'I think I better take this call.'"

Whether he missing cuts or sitting atop the leaderboard, Maggert insists that he has absolutely no complaints.

"I wouldn't trade my career," he insisted. "I probably could have won a few more times here and there, but my wife and I have three teenagers and 2 year-old twins, so it's busy."

At the thought of teens and twins, Maggert admits to having what could perhaps be called the parental yips.

"You put the twins to bed and they go to sleep," Maggert said. "But then, you wonder if your teenagers are ever going to come home."

So, what happens after the rain-delayed Shell Houston open for Maggert is anyone's guess. He feels confident in his swing, but in the grand scheme of things, that's merely an added bonus to his life at this point.

I'm just having fun doing what I'm doing," Maggert said. "I've been doing this for 20 years. Hopefully, I can play another 10 the way I'm playing. But the main thing is to just keep having fun."