Makena White, girlfriend of PGA Tour pro Jake Knapp, dies at 28 on Ryder Cup opening day
News posted on Instagram by a friend confirmed the death; cause not disclosed. White was 28 and had ties to Ottawa and McMaster University.
On the opening day of the Ryder Cup, Makena White, the girlfriend of PGA Tour professional Jake Knapp, died at age 28, according to a post on White's Instagram account shared by a friend. The message offered no cause of death and provided only a brief tribute to her life.
White was a native of Ottawa, Ontario, and a 2019 graduate of McMaster University with a dual degree in communications and software engineering. She worked in surgical sales, supplying equipment to vascular and cardiac surgeons, and she was an avid sports fan who followed hockey closely, particularly the Ottawa Senators. White and Knapp began dating in August 2023 and went public with their relationship in 2024 after Knapp earned his first PGA Tour victory at the Mexico Open in February.
Knapp turned pro in 2016, competing on PGA Tour Canada and the Korn Ferry Tour before earning his PGA Tour card in 2024. Last season, he posted three top-10 finishes on the PGA Tour: a T6 at the Cognizant Classic in Florida, a T4 at the Rocket Classic in Detroit, and a T3 at the 3M Open in Minnesota. He advanced to the FedEx Cup playoffs but was eliminated after tying for 62nd at the FedEx St. Jude Championship in Memphis.
Condolences poured in from colleagues and media figures. CBS Sports course reporter Amanda Balionis said she valued getting to know White over the past year and described her as someone who made others feel special. Golf writer and podcaster Dan Rapoport called her a "light" who touched many people despite meeting her only briefly.
Beyond the Instagram post, no additional details were released about the circumstances of White's death or where she was at the time. Knapp's camp and his family were not immediately available for comment. The Ryder Cup remains a major event for golf, and the loss comes as athletes and fans alike navigate the news during a high-profile competition.