Life on the PGA Tour looks like a dream from the outside. Sun-drenched fairways. Massive trophies. The roar of the crowd when a long putt drops. For Jake Knapp, 2024 was supposed to be the year that dream solidified into a permanent reality. He won the Mexico Open. He shot an legendary 59 at the Cognizant Classic. But by late 2025, the headlines surrounding the long-hitting Californian shifted from his swing speed to a profound personal tragedy that left the golf world reeling.
Makena White, the woman often seen sprinting onto the 18th green to embrace him, was gone.
She was 28. It happened fast. One day she was celebrating their second anniversary on Instagram, and just weeks later, her friends were posting a memorial on that same account. Honestly, the whiplash for fans was intense. People were used to seeing her bubbly energy in the gallery, and suddenly, the "Knapp Time" era felt incredibly heavy.
The Relationship Most People Didn’t See
Jake Knapp and Makena White didn’t exactly hide their relationship, but they weren't chasing clout either. They started dating in August 2023. At the time, Jake was still grinding, trying to prove he belonged at the highest level of professional golf.
The public didn't really get a good look at them as a couple until the 2024 Mexico Open at Vidanta. When Jake clinched that victory, Makena was right there. NBC’s cameras caught the raw emotion. She later joked on social media, asking if it still counts as a "hard launch" when a national television network beats you to the punch.
That’s the kind of person she was—self-deprecating and funny.
Makena wasn't just "the golfer's girlfriend." She was a powerhouse in her own right. Born in Ottawa, Canada, she moved through life with a specific kind of intensity. She worked in surgical medical device sales, specifically helping vascular and cardiac surgeons ensure they had the right gear for life-saving procedures. It’s a high-pressure job.
Why she mattered to the game
You might think a medical sales rep from Canada wouldn't have much to do with a Southern California kid's golf career, but Makena was a bridge. She was a massive hockey fan—obsessed with the Boston Bruins and the Ottawa Senators—but she grew up playing golf too.
She often shared that she walked away from the game for years. Between the ages of 16 and 21, she barely touched a club. Then, around 23, she got "obsessed" again. She bought her first set of "big kid" clubs. She started playing with her dad. This shared language of the links made her Jake’s perfect sounding board.
She wasn't just watching him play; she was "watching with her ears." She famously told the Birdie Little Secrets podcast that she was the "worst golf watcher" because she was too nervous to look at his putts if they were within 10 feet.
The Tragic Events of September 2025
The news of Makena White’s death broke in late September 2025, right as the golf world was focusing on the Ryder Cup. Jake hadn’t made the team, but the timing still felt surreal.
A friend posted the announcement on Makena's Instagram on September 26. The message was devastatingly simple. It spoke of her "huge heart" and a "healthy sprinkling of chaos" that came with trying to keep up with her travel schedule.
Jake eventually broke his silence through a statement to People magazine. He called her "selfless" and admitted the reality was "tough to comprehend."
- The Date: She passed away earlier in that week of September 2025.
- The Cause: To this day, the family and Jake have kept the specific cause of death private.
- The Legacy: Her family requested donations to the Bruyère Brain Health & Memory Clinic and the Griffin Bell Endowment Fund.
The mention of the Bruyère clinic is a subtle nod to Makena’s own history with loss. Her mother, Crystal, had battled Alzheimer’s and passed away in 2022. Makena had been open about that struggle, and it clearly shaped her perspective on what really matters.
What Most People Get Wrong About Celebrity Mourning
There is a tendency for the internet to demand answers. Why did she die? Was she sick? When someone young and seemingly healthy passes away, the vacuum is filled with speculation.
Jake Knapp handled this with a level of grace that’s rare. He didn't feed the machine. He didn't post a 20-slide tribute for engagement. He asked for privacy for her family. He went quiet.
For fans of the PGA Tour, jake knapp's girlfriend represented the human side of the grind. She was the one holding the dogs—Nelly and Fergie—while he was on the range. She was the one documenting the "first fairway hugs."
Moving Forward in the Public Eye
How do you go back to the tee box after that? Jake returned to competition eventually, but the vibe had changed. You could see it in the way the other players interacted with him. There’s a fraternity in pro sports, and the loss of a partner ripples through the entire locker room.
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The "Knapp Time" brand—which started as a fun play on his name and his explosive power—took on a second meaning. It became about taking a breath. Realizing that the leaderboard isn't everything.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Supporters
If you've been following this story, the best way to honor the memory of the couple's journey is through the causes they actually cared about.
- Support Brain Health: Makena’s family directed people to the Bruyère Brain Health & Memory Clinic. This isn't just about Alzheimer's; it's about the research that Makena’s mother benefited from.
- The Griffin Bell Endowment: This fund supports pediatric cancer research in Ontario. It’s a specific, localized charity that meant something to her circle.
- Respect the "Why": Sometimes not knowing the cause of death is the point. Privacy is the last gift a family can give to someone they loved.
Jake Knapp is still one of the most exciting players to watch. His swing is still a marvel of physics. But when you see him walking down the 18th now, it’s a reminder that every player out there is carrying something heavy in their bag that doesn't show up on the scorecard.
Makena White was 28. She was a daughter, a dog mom, a surgical sales expert, and a hell of a hockey fan. She was much more than just a footnote in a golfer’s biography.