The golf world is usually about hushed whispers on the green and the gentle clink of a club, but lately, the silence has felt heavy for a completely different reason. If you’ve been following the PGA Tour, you probably know the name Jake Knapp. But more recently, the searches haven’t been about his swing or his latest tournament finish. People are asking about Makena White, the woman who was a constant, vibrant presence by his side.
Honestly, the news that broke in late 2025 was the kind of thing that makes you stop scrolling and just sit there for a second. Makena was only 28. She wasn’t just a "PGA girlfriend"—she was a surgical sales rep, a dual-degree grad, and someone who seemed to have a terrifyingly high amount of energy for travel and sports. Then, suddenly, she was gone.
What Happened to Makena White?
The timeline of what happened to Makena White is short, tragic, and left a lot of people looking for answers that haven't fully surfaced yet. On September 26, 2025, a post appeared on her Instagram. It wasn't from her. A close friend used the platform to announce that Makena had passed away earlier that week.
It was a shock. Just weeks prior, she had been posting about "fairway hugs" and celebrating her second anniversary with Knapp. She seemed healthy, happy, and fully immersed in the "crazy adventures" of the pro golf life.
The official word (or lack thereof)
Right now, if you're looking for a specific medical cause of death, you aren't going to find one. The family and Jake Knapp have kept those details private. In the world of celebrity news, we often expect a play-by-play, but they’ve circled the wagons to protect her memory. What we do know is that she died "suddenly," a word that carries a lot of weight when you're talking about someone in their late 20s.
Some people have pointed to the organizations the family asked for donations to: the Bruyère Brain Health & Memory Clinic and the Griffin Bell Endowment Fund. It’s worth noting that Makena’s mother, Crystal, passed away in 2022 after a battle with Alzheimer’s, which explains the connection to the brain health clinic. The Griffin Bell fund supports pediatric cancer research. While these give us a glimpse into her heart and the causes she cared about, they don't necessarily confirm the circumstances of her own passing.
A life beyond the sidelines
Makena wasn't just a spectator. She was born in Ottawa, Canada, and she was a powerhouse in her own right. You don't get degrees in both communications and software engineering from McMaster University by just coasting.
She worked in surgical sales, specifically dealing with equipment for vascular and cardiac surgeons. Think about that for a second. Her day job involved ensuring surgeons had the tools to save lives. It's a high-pressure, high-stakes environment.
- Hometown: Ottawa, Canada
- Education: McMaster University (Class of 2019)
- Career: Surgical Sales Representative at Lemaitre
- Passions: Ottawa Senators (hockey), the Boston Bruins, and—eventually—golf
She actually grew up playing golf but walked away from it for years. She didn't touch a club between the ages of 16 and 21. It was only later, around age 23, that she got "obsessed" again. She even tweeted about getting her first set of "big kid" clubs. It’s a bit poetic that she ended up falling for a guy whose life revolved around the game she had just rediscovered.
The public relationship with Jake Knapp
Their relationship was one of those "hard launches" that wasn't actually a launch. They started dating in August 2023 but kept it on the low. Then, in February 2024, Jake won the Mexico Open. As he finished his final putt, Makena was right there on the 18th green. The cameras caught their embrace, and basically, the secret was out.
She handled the sudden spotlight with a lot of grace and a sense of humor. She once joked on social media about being "outed" for playing hooky from work because she was spotted watching Jake play. That’s relatable. Most of us have probably considered "calling in sick" to support someone we love (or just to go to the beach), but most of us don't get caught by a national NBC broadcast.
Jake’s statement after her death was devastating. He called her his "rock" and talked about her selflessness. It’s clear she was the engine behind a lot of his recent success, including that historic 59 he shot at the Cognizant Classic in 2025.
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Why the mystery persists
In 2026, the internet doesn't like gaps in a story. Because there was no public autopsy report or detailed medical statement, rumors inevitably fly. But it's important to respect the "tough reality" Jake mentioned in his statement. Sometimes, "what happened" is a private family matter, and no amount of Google searching will change that.
What we can see, though, is the impact. Amanda Balionis and other figures in the sports media world spoke about her "light." It sounds like a cliché until you see the sheer volume of people who said the exact same thing. She was the person who "never met a stranger."
Moving forward and honoring a legacy
If you're looking for a way to process this or want to do something meaningful, the family was very specific. They didn't want flowers. They wanted people to look toward the future of medical research.
- Support Brain Health: The Bruyère Brain Health & Memory Clinic in Ottawa does massive work for cognitive impairment. Given Makena's history with her mother's illness, this was a cause close to her soul.
- Childhood Cancer Research: The Griffin Bell Endowment Fund is another one they mentioned. It’s a way to turn a personal tragedy into a lifeline for someone else.
- Appreciate the "Fairway Hugs": If there's a "human" takeaway here, it's probably just the fragility of it all. Makena’s last post was about being grateful for the walk they were on.
Makena White’s story isn't just about a tragic ending. It’s about a 28-year-old woman who lived a lot of life in a short window—balancing a technical career, a high-profile relationship, and a genuine love for her dogs, Nelly and Fergie. While the "why" remains behind a curtain of privacy, the "who" is very well documented in the smiles she left behind on the tour.
To truly honor her memory, consider making a small donation to the Bruyère Foundation or simply taking a moment to appreciate the people on your own "walk." The golf community will eventually move on to the next tournament, but for those who knew her, the sunset will always look a little different.