Rory McIlroy rode another, slightly less dramatic, Augusta rollercoaster to defend his Masters title, and with it join yet another list of legends.A year ago the Northern Irishman became only the sixth player – and the first since Tiger Woods 26 years ago – to complete the career Grand Slam.It wasn’t as nervy as last year, but McIlroy has triumphed at Augusta once againGettyOn a glorious Sunday in Georgia, he claimed a second Green Jacket – joining Woods, Jack Nicklaus and Nick Faldo as the only players to defend the title on the iconic Augusta greens and fairways.McIlroys sixth major title means he has two Masters titles to go with two PGA Championships, one Open, and one US Open.He also draws level with Faldo, Phil Mickelson and Lee Trevino, just one behind greats of the game including Arnold Palmer, Harry Vardon, Bobby Jones and Gene Sarazen.After a nervy start, the world no.2 cast aside his Saturday struggles to seize control on the second nine, but a trademark Masters Sunday was not without it’s dramatic momentsWith the wind getting up, there were charges from Russell Henley and Tyrrell Hatton among the earlier starters.World No 1 Scottie Scheffler birdied two of the first three holes to land a couple of early ominous blows but he was not able to find another until 15 and 16 which helped him set the clubhouse target,Cameron Young started Sunday alongside McIlroy at -11 but the chasing pack of Sam Burns, Shane Lowry and Jason Day were unable to get into the mix.Instead it was McIlroy, Young, Scheffler and Rose who jostled down the stretch chasing the prize of a Green Jacket and the record $4.5million winners prize.McIlroy dropped out of the lead by the second as Young fired an early birdie in pursuit of his first career major but the eventual champion hit back at three to join the American at -12.However a double bogey at 4 having missed the bogey putt from three feet was followed by a bogey at 6, where Young followed him in to open the door for the chasing pack.Champion crownedFinal leaderboard-13 Rory McIlroy-11 Scottie Scheffler-10 Justin Rose, Cameron Young, Tyrrell Hatton, Russell HenleyGettyMcIlroy becomes the first man since Woods to retain his Masters title[/caption]GettyHe holds off Englishman Rose, who came so close to Masters glory once again[/caption]GettyAs well as a late surge from two-time champion Scheffler[/caption]It was then Rose began to make his move, aiming to become the first Englishman since Danny Willett in 2016 to win the Masters – and cast aside the unwanted record of three runners-up finishes at the tournament.Rose, the 2013 US Open champion produced flawless golf after an early chip-in birdie was cancelled out by a bogey at the third.A run of four birdies in five holes took him into sole possession of the lead and clear of the field, but the 45-year-old, usually so cool under pressure, wilted around Amen Corner as so many have done.Ahead of them all, and with the wind swirling, Hatton had set the clubhouse lead at ten under par after a round of 66 that included a blistering run of four successive birdies from 13 to 16.Back-to-back gains had moved McIlroy to just behind Rose, and as the Englishman bogeyed 11 and 12, and then missed a glorious chance for an immediate bounce back at 13, his Ryder Cup teammate pounced.Birdies at 12 and 13 took McIlroy three clear of the field, just as Scheffler found an unlikely third birdie of the round to get to -10.Most Men’s Major Golf Wins18 – Jack Nicklaus15 – Tiger Woods11 – Walter Hagen9 – Ben Hogan, Gary Player8 – Tom Watson7 – Harry Vardon, Bobby Jones, Gene Sarazen, Sam Snead, Arnold PalmerThe world no.1 added another at 16 and slid another chance agonisingly by at 17 in his pursuit of a third Masters in five years.With the target set McIlroy produced a nerveless chip from the back of 16 to tap in for par, and another classy up and down left him with a two shot lead coming up 18.A week that begun with McIlroy returning his Green Jacket after his year as a champion, continued with him hosting the champions dinner now ends with him as the champion, again.And he’ll look to do it all again next year.