Oct. 14 (Bloomberg) -- John Daly will return to the U.S. PGA Tour in two weeks after stem-cell surgery helped the two- time major champion recover from a rib injury ahead of schedule.

Daly, 43, will play the Oct. 29-Nov. 1 Viking Classic at Annandale Golf Club in Madison, Mississippi, before heading to Australia for its Open and PGA Championship in December.

Daly withdrew from the Australian events in September citing a flare-up of the rib injury he sustained when he stopped his downswing as a woman took his photograph at the 2007 Honda Classic.

“My recovery from stem-cell surgery has been closely monitored,” Daly said in a statement released by the PGA of Australia. “I’m relieved things have begun moving in the right direction.”

It will be the second straight year that Daly, who won the 1991 U.S. PGA Championship and 1995 British Open, has competed in Australia’s Open and PGA Championship.

To contact the reporter on this story: Dan Baynes in Sydney dbaynes@bloomberg.net

Last Updated: October 13, 2009 18:55 EDT