Martin Kaymer has claimed that he was forced to lower his expectations ahead of round two of the Players Championship.

The German held the advantage after he tied the course record at TPC Sawgrass on Thursday, but he believes that it was important not to get carried away on a day when he found scoring low much more difficult.

However, the former world number one declared himself happy after carding a 69 on his way to a one-shot lead at the halfway stage of the tournament.

"It was a little tougher especially when you shoot such a low score, your expectations are very high and you need to find a way to lower those expectations and see it as a new day so 69 was a very good score today," Kaymer told members of the media.

"I didn't hit as many fairways as yesterday, but I managed my way quite nicely around the golf course, had a couple of nice up and downs and two longer putts went in. I think I kept it really well together and kept myself in the tournament."

Kaymer is looking for his first win on the PGA Tour since November 2011.