Above-freezing temperatures also led to overflow along the trail, a potentially dangerous situation where water has pushed up through the ice and refrozen, creating a weak top layer of ice that teams and mushers can break through.

NPR: 53-Year-Old Musher Becomes Oldest Iditarod Champ

Even after Fowler bowed out with a 7-iron that came up short and into the water and another shot in the water that led to triple bogey on the par-5 16th hole, Justin Rose was still in the picture only two shots behind.

NPR: A Long Road Back To No. 1 For Tiger Woods