The world number two has been struggling with a rib injury he sustained at the South Africa Open this month.
He has already missed the Abu Dhabi Championship and on Monday pulled out of next week's Dubai Desert Classic.
Now the Northern Irishman aims to come back at the WGC Mexico Championship on March 2, more than six weeks after he fractured his rib on Jan. 13.
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"I'm trying to get back for Mexico," said McIlroy. "That's my timetable for return. I could probably get back before that. For example, if I were to play Honda (the Honda Classic in late February) and then go straight to Mexico, I would be playing two weeks in a row.
"I'd like to ease my way back in gently. Mexico is the perfect time to return because it's four rounds, there's no cut. I can see how everything feels. I have a week off after that.
"All signs pointed towards Mexico being the one I could come back to and be 100 percent comfortable at. Hopefully it will work out that way and that's when I'm back."
(Reporting by Neil Robinson; Editing by Clare Fallon)
