2013 British Open: Meet the amateurs

The highly-anticipated British Open Championship tees off Thursday from Muirfield.

The usual suspects are in the hunt with Tiger Woods the heavy odds-on favorite and Phil Mickelson coming off a big links win this past weekend.

But what about the amateurs in the field? Here's a look at the seven amateurs that reached the field and hope to contend well into the weekend:

Ben Stow, England: Stow recently finished his freshman year at the University of Kentucky. He was the runner-up at the English Golf Union's Champion of Champions event and won the European Challenge Trophy in 2012. He qualified for the Open with rounds of 72-68 at Gullane No. 1.

Garrick Porteous, England: Last month, Porteous won the British Amateur. Before that, he won the Scottish Stroke Play. A recent graduate from the University of Tennessee, Porteous may be the hottest amateur in the field and enters as the Golfweek/amateurgolf.com Players Rankings World No. 1.

Jimmy Mullen, England: Qualified for the 2013 Open with a birdie on his final hole, which gave him a 6-under total at the North Berwick qualifier. Mullen, just 19, was the medalist in a field that included Colin Montgomerie. Mullen also has a T3 at the British Men's Open Amateur Stroke Play Championship.

Grant Forrest, Scotland: Just 20, Forrest is the Scottish Amateur Champion. He played his way into the Open, shooting 67- 65 at Dunbar local qualifying. A member of the team at San Diego University, Forrest was selected to represent his country at the European Team Championship.

Rhys Pugh, Wales: A 2011 Walker Cupper, Pugh came from four shots back to win the 2012 European Amateur. The 38th- ranked player in the world, Pugh has also been part of the Welsh European Team Championship and Eisenhower Trophy teams.

Matthew Fitzpatrick, England: Played his way into the British Open with rounds of 68-72 at Gullane No. 1 and enters as the 2012 Boys Amateur Championship winner thanks to a record 10- and-8 performance in the final match.

Steven Fox, United States: Fox, a recent graduate from Tennessee- Chatanooga, enters the field via exemption after winning the 2012 U.S. Amateur Championship. Fox is ranked No. 14 in the Golfweek/amateurgolf.com World Player Rankings.