People keep searching for "Jake Knapp wife" like they're looking for a wedding registry that doesn't exist. Honestly, if you follow the PGA Tour, you've likely seen the viral clips of the man they call "Knapp Time" hugging a blonde woman on the 18th green after his big win in Mexico. That wasn't his wife. It was Makena White, his girlfriend and biggest supporter.
But there is a reason the search volume for her name spiked recently, and it’s not because of a secret wedding. It’s actually much more tragic.
The Relationship Everyone Noticed
Jake Knapp and Makena White were basically the "it" couple of the 2024 PGA season. They started dating back in August 2023. For a while, they kept things on the down-low, just another young couple navigating the crazy travel schedule of professional golf.
Then came the 2024 Mexico Open at Vidanta.
Knapp, a guy who once worked as a bouncer at a nightclub just to keep his golf dreams alive, finally broke through. When he sank that final putt, Makena was right there. She ran onto the green, they hugged, and the internet immediately wanted to know who she was. She even joked on Instagram later, asking if their "hard launch" still counted since NBC had broadcast it to the entire world first.
They weren't married, but they were a team. She was a surgical sales rep from Ottawa, Canada, specializing in equipment for vascular and cardiac surgeons. She wasn't just "the golfer's girlfriend"; she had a high-powered career of her own.
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What Happened to Makena White?
If you're looking for news about Jake Knapp wife or his partner in 2026, the reality is incredibly heavy. In September 2025, just as the golf world was gearing up for the Ryder Cup at Bethpage Black, news broke that Makena White had died. She was only 28 years old.
The news didn't come from a flashy press release. It came from a heartbreaking post on her own Instagram account, written by a close friend. The message described her as "one of a kind" with a "huge heart."
Jake eventually broke his silence through his manager, calling it a "tough reality to comprehend." He talked about her selflessness and the "unforgettable memories" they shared. It’s the kind of loss that makes a leaderboard look pretty insignificant.
Why the "Wife" Confusion Persists
Search engines are funny. When a celebrity is in a committed, highly visible relationship, people naturally assume there's a marriage or an engagement. Because Makena was at every major milestone—the Masters, the Cognizant Classic, the historic 59 he shot—people labeled her as "Jake Knapp's wife" in their minds.
There were no wedding bells. Just a deep, public partnership that ended far too soon.
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Life Before the Spotlight
Before the world knew her name, Makena was a standout in her own right. She went to McMaster University in Ontario and graduated with a degree in communications and software engineering. That’s a serious double-whammy of a degree.
She was also a massive hockey fan. Growing up in Ottawa, she lived and breathed the Senators. She even had a hat dedicated to defenseman Artem Zub. If you scrolled through her X (formerly Twitter) feed, it was a mix of Bruins highlights and golf updates.
She actually grew up playing golf but stepped away from it for years. Around the time she met Jake, she’d rediscovered the sport. She posted about getting her first set of "big kid clubs" and how much she loved playing rounds with her dad.
The Impact on Jake's Career
You can't talk about Jake Knapp's personal life without mentioning his family. He’s already dealt with a lot of grief. His grandfather, Gordon Bowley, died of colon cancer in 2023. Jake has his grandfather’s initials, GSFB, tattooed on his arm so they’re visible during his swing.
Losing Makena in late 2025 was another massive blow.
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He had just come off a season where he earned over $3 million and established himself as a legitimate star. He’s got that smooth, effortless power that makes scouts drool. But golf is a mental game. When your support system is rocked like that, the fairways get a lot narrower.
How to Support the Causes She Loved
In the wake of her passing, her family and Jake haven't asked for flowers. They’ve pointed people toward two specific organizations that meant something to her:
- Bruyère Brain Health & Memory Clinic: Makena’s mother, Crystal, fought Alzheimer’s for years before passing away in 2022. Makena was very vocal about the toll that disease takes on families.
- Griffin Bell Endowment Fund: This supports pediatric cancer research and was a cause close to her heart.
Moving Forward in 2026
So, if you’re looking for the latest on Jake Knapp’s personal life, know that he’s currently navigating a very public journey of grief. There is no wife. There is a legacy of a young woman who was a fixture on the tour and a bright light in the lives of those who knew her.
Jake is still out there playing. He’s still got that "Knapp Time" swag, but it’s carry-on baggage now. The best way to "follow" the story isn't by looking for a wedding, but by supporting the brain health research Makena championed.
If you want to honor her memory or understand the depth of their bond, look into the work being done at the Bruyère Clinic. It’s where the real story lives now.