The golfing world usually buzzes with talk of swing speeds or leaderboard climbs. But lately, a much heavier question has taken over the conversation: how did Makena White die? It’s a tragedy that feels uniquely sharp because of how vibrant she was. At just 28, Makena wasn't just "the girlfriend" of PGA Tour star Jake Knapp; she was a software engineer, a hockey player from Ottawa, and a person who seemed to radiate a very specific kind of chaotic, joyful energy.
When news broke in late September 2025 that she had passed away, it felt like a gut punch. There was no warning. No long, public battle. Just a heartbreaking Instagram post from a friend and a sudden void in the gallery where she usually stood.
The Mystery Behind the Official Cause of Death
Let’s get the hard part out of the way. If you’re looking for a specific medical examiner’s report or a definitive "it was X," you won't find it. Not yet, and maybe not ever. The official cause of death for Makena White has not been released to the public. Her family and Jake Knapp have been incredibly protective of her privacy. Honestly, who can blame them? Losing a 28-year-old is a private hell that most of us can’t imagine.
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But while the "official" word is missing, Makena herself left behind a trail of breadcrumbs. She was surprisingly open about her health on social media, often using humor to mask what seemed like a pretty scary reality.
What We Know About Her Health Struggles
Makena wasn't shy about her heart. On her X (formerly Twitter) profile, she literally called herself a "vascular and cardiac surgery nerd." That’s not a hobby; it was a reflection of her life.
- The Tachycardia Connection: In June 2025, she posted a photo of her Apple Watch showing a heart rate of 133 beats per minute. She was sitting down at the time. She joked about being "dialed" for the US Open, but then followed up with, "By dialed I mean tachycardic." For context, a normal resting heart rate is usually between 60 and 100.
- The "Heart Defect": She openly mentioned having a congenital heart defect. In May, she posted about the irony of attending a cardiac surgery conference for work while wearing a Holter monitor—a device that records your heart rhythm—to track her own issues.
- Scheduled Surgeries: This is the part that hits the hardest. In early June, she mentioned having "2 cardiac and 1 vascular surgery" standing between her and watching Jake play in the RBC Canadian Open.
It’s clear she was navigating a complex medical landscape. Whether her passing was a direct complication of these procedures or a sudden event related to her underlying condition remains speculation, but the "how did Makena White die" question almost certainly points toward these long-standing cardiac battles.
A Legacy Beyond the Leaderboard
Makena grew up in Ottawa and was a force of nature long before she met Jake Knapp. She graduated from McMaster University with a double threat degree: communications and software engineering. She wasn't just a spectator in life.
She volunteered at an orphanage in Uganda. She played hockey for the Nepean Wildcats. She was the kind of person who would fix a stranger's hearing aid in a cardiologist's waiting room just because she could.
The tragedy is compounded by her family history. Her mother, Crystal, passed away in 2022 after a brutal battle with Alzheimer’s. In many ways, Makena’s life was defined by a deep understanding of medical fragility, which makes her "vascular nerd" persona both inspiring and incredibly sad.
The Impact on the Golf Community
Jake Knapp’s rise on the PGA Tour was one of 2024’s best stories. When he won the Mexico Open, the image of him hugging Makena on the 18th green went viral. It wasn't just a trophy win; it felt like a "we made it" moment.
When she died, the support was massive. CBS reporter Amanda Balionis and other tour regulars spoke about her "light." It’s a cliché, sure, but in this case, it seems to have been true. She had a way of making the high-stakes, often stuffy world of professional golf feel a little more human.
Sorting Fact from Fiction
In the vacuum of information, the internet does what it does best: it guesses. You'll see rumors ranging from sudden accidents to surgical complications.
Here is the reality:
- She had a known, documented heart defect.
- She suffered from tachycardia (rapid heart rate).
- She was undergoing multiple surgeries in the months leading up to her death.
- No foul play has ever been suggested by authorities or family.
Moving Forward: How to Honor Her
If you’re looking for a way to process this or want to do something more than just search for answers, her family has been very clear about where to direct that energy. They aren't asking for flowers. They’re asking for help with the causes that mattered to her.
Donations in her name are being directed to the Bruyère Brain Health & Memory Clinic (in honor of her mother) and the Griffin Bell Endowment Fund. These aren't just random charities; they represent the real-world struggles her family faced.
It's easy to get caught up in the "how" of a tragedy. But with someone like Makena, the "who" is much more interesting. She was a brilliant, funny, slightly chaotic woman who lived more in 28 years than many do in 80.
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Next Steps for Readers:
- Check Your Own Heart Health: If you experience unexplained palpitations or a racing heart, don't just "joke it off" on social media. See a specialist. Makena’s openness about her Holter monitor and cardiologist visits reminds us that even young, seemingly healthy people can have underlying issues.
- Support the Cause: Visit the Bruyère Foundation to learn about the brain health research that Makena championed.
- Respect the Silence: Understand that the family may never release a "final" cause. In a world of 24/7 news, some things are allowed to remain private.
Essentially, while we may never have the granular medical details of her final moments, the context of her life and her own social media history provides a clear, albeit tragic, picture of a young woman fighting a quiet battle with her own heart while giving her whole heart to everyone else.