Girlfriend of PGA Tour golfer Jake Knapp dies at 28 on Ryder Cup opening day

Makena White, 28, the girlfriend of American PGA Tour golfer Jake Knapp, has died, her family said, a loss confirmed on the opening day of the Ryder Cup. No cause of death was disclosed in the statements issued by White’s circle, and Knapp’s team asked for privacy as he navigates the loss amid a high-profile week for him and his sport.

White’s friends and family posted on social media that she had passed away earlier in the week, describing her as “one of a kind” with a large heart who was deeply missed by her family, friends, and her dogs, Nelly and Fergie. In a message attributed to White’s friends, the note said she had a gift for making people feel special and that those who loved her would be looking for her in the sunset. Knapp responded to supportive comments with heart emojis in response to White’s earlier social posts.

Knapp and White began dating in August 2023 and publicly acknowledged their relationship after Knapp captured his first PGA Tour win at the Mexico Open in February of the previous year. The couple’s public debut as a couple came during a season in which Knapp steadily climbed the ranks, with White frequently traveling to support him.

White, a native of Ottawa, Ontario, was a 2019 graduate of McMaster University with degrees in communications and software engineering. She worked in surgical sales, primarily supplying equipment to vascular and cardiac surgeons. Beyond her professional life, she was an avid sports fan who followed hockey closely and cheered for the Ottawa Senators. In later conversations, White described herself as a casual golfer in youth—“but from 16-21 I picked up a club maybe 5x total, I had no interest.” After meeting Knapp, she reconnected with golf and supported him as his career progressed.

Knapp, who turned pro in 2016, spent time on PGA Tour Canada from 2016-2019 and again in 2022. He also competed on the Korn Ferry Tour in 2020, 2021 and 2023, earning his PGA Tour card in 2024 and recording his first tour win in his fifth start. The death of White casts a pall over a week that had spotlighted Knapp’s rise in American golf as Ryder Cup play began, with fans processing the loss alongside the tournament’s competition.

The timing of White’s death has left Knapp and his supporters grappling with a personal crisis during a period that would ordinarily be defined by competition and celebration. The family’s public statements underscore the personal toll of the loss and call for privacy as Knapp continues to navigate his professional commitments. In her Instagram tribute, White’s circle emphasized how she touched those around her with “endless laughter, so much joy, and a healthy sprinkling of chaos as we tried to keep up with her travel schedule.”

As the Ryder Cup unfolds, tributes to White have been shared across social media by teammates, friends, and fans who followed Knapp’s ascent. The golfing world, meanwhile, is reminded of the human side of athletes who often carry personal stories alongside their public performances. The immediate focus remains on recognizing White’s life and offering support to those closest to her as they mourn a sudden loss.