It was supposed to be one of those high-energy weeks where the golf world holds its breath for the Ryder Cup. Instead, a heavy silence fell over the community in late September 2025. News broke that Makena White, the 28-year-old partner of PGA Tour standout Jake Knapp, had passed away.
Honestly, the shock wasn’t just about her age, though 28 is undeniably far too young. It was the contrast. Makena was a constant, vibrant presence on the sidelines. If you followed Jake’s breakout season, you saw her—celebrating that emotional Mexico Open win or standing on the 18th green after he shot a 59. She wasn't just a "plus-one"; she was part of the heartbeat of the tour.
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Then, suddenly, a friend posted the news on Makena's Instagram on September 26. People were scrolling, expecting a travel update or a photo from the fairway, and instead, they got a "heaviest heart" announcement. It felt surreal.
Makena White: What Happened Behind the Scenes
When people ask about Makena White what happened, they’re usually looking for a single, tidy explanation. The reality is a bit more complicated and, frankly, a lot more private. While the official cause of death hasn't been blasted across headlines by the family—and we should respect that—Makena was actually quite open about her health struggles in the months leading up to her passing.
She didn't just post the highlights. In the summer of 2025, she shared snippets of a much harder journey. We’re talking about "tachycardia" (basically a heart rate that’s way too fast) and surgeries. On June 2, she even posted about having two cardiac and one vascular surgery scheduled. She joked about being "dialed" while her Apple Watch showed a resting heart rate of 133.
It’s one of those things where, looking back, the signs of a serious battle were there, but her spirit was so high you almost didn't believe it could end this way. She was a "cardio surgery nerd" by trade, working in surgical sales for vascular and cardiac equipment. The irony of being an expert in the very thing her body was fighting wasn't lost on her. She even posted a photo of herself at a cardiac conference while wearing a Holter monitor to track her own heart defect.
A Legacy of Resilience and "Chaos"
Makena wasn't just a face in the crowd. She graduated from McMaster University with a double threat degree: communications and software engineering. That’s not a common combo. It speaks to someone who was both analytical and deeply social. Her friends described her as a "healthy sprinkling of chaos," which is probably the best compliment you can give someone who lived as fully as she did.
Her life was also marked by deep loss before her own. She was incredibly vocal about her mother, Crystal, who battled Alzheimer’s and passed away in 2022. Makena used her platform to raise awareness, even making a YouTube video about their family's journey.
When you look at the organizations her family asked for donations to—the Bruyère Brain Health & Memory Clinic and the Griffin Bell Endowment Fund—you see the map of her heart. One for her mother, and one for a friend’s son who passed away from cancer. She was always looking outward, even when her own health was a question mark.
Jake Knapp’s Heartbreaking Silence and Statement
Jake Knapp is known for being "the coolest guy in golf," but this shook him to his core. He hasn’t been seen on the course since the FedEx St. Jude Championship in August 2025. It’s understandable. They had been together for over two years, a relationship that went public right as his career hit the stratosphere.
He finally spoke to People Magazine, calling her "selfless" and "thoughtful." It wasn't the typical PR statement. You could feel the "tough reality" he mentioned. Processing the loss of someone who was your "very best friend" while the rest of the world is watching is a unique kind of hell.
Making Sense of the Tragedy
So, where does that leave us? Usually, when a public figure passes, there’s a rush to find a "why." With Makena, the "why" seems tied to a long-standing heart condition she was bravely managing while trying to live a normal, high-speed life.
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- Tachycardia and Heart Defects: She explicitly mentioned a heart defect and the need for multiple surgeries in 2025.
- Medical Background: Her career in surgical sales meant she understood her condition better than most, making her transparency on social media even more poignant.
- Privacy: The family has chosen not to release a formal autopsy report to the public, focusing instead on her memory.
If there’s anything to take away from what happened to Makena, it’s the importance of that "fairway hug" mentality. She lived for those moments. She was 28, successful, deeply loved, and facing health hurdles that most people her age couldn't imagine.
For those who want to honor her, the best path isn't through speculation. It's through action. Supporting brain health research or cardiac care—the things she actually cared about—is the only way to keep that "light" she was known for from going out.
How to Honor Makena White's Memory:
- Donate to the Bruyère Brain Health & Memory Clinic: This was the facility that cared for her mother and a cause she championed for years.
- Support the Griffin Bell Endowment Fund: This fund helps families dealing with pediatric cancer, a cause she held dear through her friendship with the Bell family.
- Prioritize Heart Health: If you're experiencing symptoms like an abnormally fast heart rate, don't ignore it. Makena was proactive about her tachycardia; being "dialed in" to your own body can be life-saving.