CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. – Steven Fox begins play at the 142nd British Open Thursday at Muirfield Golf Links in Scotland. It is the third major of the year for the former Chattanooga Mocs star who gained entry with his storied win at the U.S. Amateur last year.

Fox is paired with tour veterans Henrik Stenson (Sweden) and Ryan Moore (USA). The group tees off at 8:23 a.m., Eastern time Thursday and 3:22 a.m. on Friday. Fox and Stenson played a practice round together during Masters week in April. Stenson’s caddie is former Mocs golfer Gareth Lord (1993-95).

This year’s Open Championship is at legendary Muirfield, home of the Honourable Company of Edinburgh Golfers. This is the 16th Open Championship at the par-71, 7,192-yard tract. Champions of Muirfield include Jack Nicklaus, Tom Watson, Gary Player, Nick Faldo (twice), Walter Hagan, Harry Vardon, Lee Trevino, Henry Cotton, Alf Perry and Harold Hilton.

Nicklaus famously described Muirfield as the “best golf course in Britain”. To honor it, he built Muirfield Village Golf Club in Dublin, Ohio, site of the annual Memorial Tournament on the PGA Tour.

This is Fox’s ninth professional appearance, with the previous eight coming on the PGA Tour. He’s played the U.S. Open, Masters, Farmers Insurance Open (Torrey Pines), Arnold Palmer Invitational, Crowne Plaza Invitational (Colonial), Memorial Tournament, FedEx/St. Jude Open and the AT&T National. His best round was a 69 in round two at Colonial.

Fox finished his collegiate career with 45 starts averaging 73.11 strokes per his 133 rounds. He claimed one win (2010 Furman Intercollegiate co-medalist) with eight top-five finishes and 13 top-10s.

He ranks fourth all-time in stroke average and fifth in top-fives and top 10s. He holds the school record for scoring in NCAA postseason play with an 8-under 64 in the 2012 NCAA Bowling Green Regional. He tallied eight birdies and 10 pars in keying a second-round charge that put Chattanooga in position to win its first regional.