The golfing world felt a little colder this past September. When news broke that Makena White, the vibrant 28-year-old partner of PGA Tour winner Jake Knapp, had passed away, it didn’t just hit the sports headlines. It hit home for anyone who had watched her cheering from the sidelines with that infectious, high-energy grin.
She was young. She was seemingly healthy. And then, suddenly, she was gone.
Naturally, everyone started asking the same thing: what was the Makena White cause of death? When someone that young and full of life disappears from the grid, the internet goes into an investigative frenzy. But the truth is often quieter, and sometimes more medical, than the rumors suggest.
The Reality of the Situation
Honestly, there hasn’t been a single, official "coroner's report" blasted across the news. The family has been understandably private. However, if you look at the breadcrumbs Makena left behind in the months leading up to September 2025, a clearer picture of her health struggles emerges.
She wasn't just a "golf girlfriend." Makena was a sharp, successful professional in medical device sales—specifically surgical sales for vascular and cardiac procedures.
The irony wasn't lost on her.
In June 2024, she posted on X (formerly Twitter) about the "irony" of attending a cardiac surgery conference for work while wearing a holter monitor for her own heart defect. She literally called herself a "cardiac surgery nerd."
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Her Battle with Tachycardia
Makena was open about her "tachycardia." For those who aren't medical nerds, that’s basically when your heart beats way too fast—usually over 100 beats per minute while at rest.
She even shared a photo of her Apple Watch showing a heart rate of 133.
"By dialed, I mean tachycardic," she joked.
But it wasn't just a joke. She mentioned having multiple surgeries lined up—specifically two cardiac and one vascular surgery—that stood between her and watching Jake play in her home country of Canada.
It’s heavy stuff.
Why the "Cause of Death" Remains Private
When a friend took over Makena’s Instagram on September 26 to announce she had "passed away earlier this week," the post focused on her light, not her medical chart. They mentioned her dogs, Nelly and Fergie. They talked about her "healthy sprinkling of chaos."
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They didn't mention a specific diagnosis.
"To be loved by Makena was a gift; one that came with endless laughter, so much joy, and a healthy sprinkling of chaos as we tried to keep up with her travel schedule."
Because of the privacy requested by Jake Knapp and Makena's father, many fans have filled the silence with speculation. Was it a complication from one of those surgeries? Was it the heart defect she mentioned? While we don't have a signed death certificate in the public domain, the timeline of her cardiac issues is the most significant piece of evidence we have.
The Connection to Brain Health
One detail that confused people was the request for donations. Her friends asked that people honor her memory by giving to the Bruyère Brain Health & Memory Clinic or the Griffin Bell Endowment Fund.
This led some to wonder if her death was neurological.
Actually, the Bruyère connection was likely a tribute to her mother, Crystal, who passed away in 2022 after battling Alzheimer’s. Makena had been very vocal about how much that loss gutted her. The Griffin Bell fund supports pediatric cancer research. It seems Makena’s circle wanted to support causes she personally cared about, rather than just the condition that took her.
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A Legacy Beyond the Fairway
Jake Knapp’s "hard launch" of their relationship happened on national TV when he won the Mexico Open in 2024. Before that, they were private. After that, she became a fan favorite.
She once joked that she got "sewered" by the cameras when she was caught "playing hooky" from work to watch Jake shoot a 59. She was a relatable, fun presence in a sport that can sometimes feel a bit stiff.
Jake's statement to People magazine said it all. He called her selflessness something he would "always appreciate." He’s been quiet since, which makes sense. Losing a partner at 28 is a "tough reality to comprehend," as he put it.
What We Can Learn
If there’s any takeaway from the tragic Makena White cause of death discussion, it’s about the invisibility of chronic illness.
You can look like you’re having the time of your life at a PGA event while literally wearing a heart monitor under your clothes. Makena was a "warrior" in the truest sense, balancing a high-pressure career and a public relationship while navigating significant heart and vascular issues.
If you want to honor her, maybe stop scrolling for a second.
- Check in on your "healthy" friends. You never know who is waiting on a surgery date.
- Support the causes she loved. The Bruyère Clinic does vital work for families dealing with cognitive decline.
- Take your heart health seriously. If you’re feeling "tachy," don’t just joke about it on your Apple Watch. See a professional.
Makena's story is a reminder that life is fragile, even when it looks vibrant. We might never get a clinical breakdown of her final moments, and honestly, we aren't entitled to one. What we have is the memory of a woman who loved golf, loved her dogs, and loved her "sweet boy" Jake with everything she had.
To keep her memory alive, you can look into the Griffin Bell Endowment Fund or simply take a moment to appreciate the "sunset" her friends said they'd be looking for her in.