Think the life of a professional golfer is all glitz and glamour? Think again.

While the top-ranked golfers like Tiger Woods, Rory McIlroy and company will never be short of a quid, it can be a major struggle at the other end of the spectrum.

Take Victorian golfer Ashley Hall for example.

Hall shot a four-under-par 68 on Thursday to put himself in contention at the $2 million Perth International at Lake Karrinyup.

But the world No.617, who turned professional six years ago, almost never made it to the event after a recent financial squeeze had him reconsidering his future in the game.

“To be perfectly honest, I was almost not going to be playing during the summer this year for financial reasons,” Hall said.

“I was trying to find ways for people to loan me stuff, and I’ve never had to do that before.

“I’ve got a young boy now who has just turned one, and a little house.

“We had not got a cheque in ages and my wife was not working and it was just getting hard.

“It’s expensive travelling week to week.

“And I didn’t know (how I could earn money away from golf), so it was upsetting that I didn’t know what I was going to do.”

However, Hall’s fortunes changed enough in recent weeks to allow him to keep his professional golf dream alive.

Hall finished in a tie for 22nd at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship before finishing tied for 47th at the China Masters last week.

“We are all good. It all adds up,” Hall said.

“I’m going to the US qualifying school now.

“I can’t wait to get over there now that I’m showing some form and hopefully I’ll be playing the US Tour next year.”