Makena White passed away at the age of just 28.
Last Updated on 1 day by Vijay Kumar
Makena White, girlfriend of rising PGA Tour golfer Jake Knapp. She tragically passed away at the age of just 28, as confirmed through a heartfelt post shared on her Instagram account by a close friend.
The tribute described Makena as someone with a “huge heart,” who made everyone feel special and filled lives with joy, laughter, and love.
Her passing has sent shockwaves not only among her loved ones but also across the golfing world, where many had come to know her through Jake Knapp’s remarkable journey as a professional golfer.
While Makena White was not a public figure in the sports industry, she built her identity as a supportive partner and a passionate individual with close ties to charitable causes.
Friends and well-wishers were encouraged, via a tribute on her Instagram account, to make donations in her memory to:
- The Bruyère Brain Health & Memory Clinic in Ottawa, where her late mother received treatment.
- The Griffin Bell Endowment Fund at the Ottawa Hospital, honoring her connection to healthcare initiatives.
- This reflects Makena’s caring nature and her family’s values of giving back to society.
Makena was raised in a close-knit family in Canada, where values of compassion and resilience shaped her life.
She shared a deep bond with her late mother, whose medical journey at Bruyère inspired Makena’s association with brain health awareness.
Makena’s family and close circle of friends are now leading tributes in her memory, describing her as someone who always spread positivity and cared deeply for others.
Friends remember Makena as a cheerful and supportive figure, always uplifting those around her. Her Instagram tribute post described her as:
“A beautiful soul with a huge heart. You made people feel special and filled their lives with joy, laughter, and love.”
Makena had been in a relationship with Jake Knapp, one of the PGA Tour’s promising golfers, for several years. She often expressed her admiration and pride for him publicly.
Her last Instagram post, shared on August 11, 2025, was a touching tribute to Jake. In it, she celebrated his dreams, career milestones, and their bond, writing about how proud she was of his journey and their shared moments together.
“Year 2 of first fairway hugs & watching you live out your dreams 🫶🏼
Second season in the books — forever grateful to be on this walk with you, here’s to many many many more!
I looooove you sweet boy, you make it so dang easy to be proud 💛” she wrote.
Her friend wrote on White’s Instagram account on Friday, Sept. 26,
“Hi everyone – this is Makena’s friend, writing with the heaviest heart to share that Makena passed away earlier this week. She is already so deeply missed by her Dad, her family, her friends, and of course by Nelly and Fergie.”
“Makena was one of a kind. She had this rare way of making you feel special, and her huge heart was always overflowing with love. To be loved by Makena was a gift; one that came with endless laughter, so much joy, and a healthy sprinkling of chaos as we tried to keep up with her travel schedule.”
“If you would like to honour Makena’s memory, donations to the Bruyère Brain Health & Memory Clinic or the Griffin Bell Endowment Fund would mean a lot.”
“We love you Mak. We’ll miss you always, and we’ll be looking for you in the sunset 💛”
My name is Vijay Kumar. I work as content writer and founder of this website. I am studying BSC IT. I has been writing content since 2022. I also learn about journalism.