Who was Makena White? Jake Knapp's girlfriend tragically dies just before Ryder Cup

Jake Knapp suffered a major personal loss just before the Ryder Cup kicked off on Friday. The PGA Tour pro's girlfriend, Makena White, tragically passed away.

Published on: Sep 27, 2025, 24:17:55 IST

By Yash Nitish Bajaj

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Jake Knapp suffered a major personal loss just before the Ryder Cup kicked off on Friday. The PGA Tour pro's girlfriend, Makena White, tragically passed away. She was 28 years old. Her death was first announced on social media, with an unnamed friend posting about the heartbreaking news.

Makena White, Jake Knapp's girlfriend, has tragically died (Instagram)

“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,” her friend wrote

“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,” the Instagram caption further read.

CBS Sports golf personality Amanda Balionis paid tribute to Makena. "Getting to know Makena was one of my favorite parts of this last year. So much laughter, passion and she never met a stranger. I will miss her light… it touched so many💛💛."

“Getting to know Makena was one of my favorite parts of this last year. So much laughter, passion and she never met a stranger. I will miss her light… it touched so many💛💛” another social media user wrote.

White and Knapp began dating in August 2023, going public in February 2024 after his maiden PGA Tour win at the Mexico Open. She surprised him by flying in for the final round, embracing him on the 18th green in a moment captured by broadcasters.

“I will never forget the day I met this gorgeous, vivacious girl. The day her and my daughter became roommates and started what Mak called their 8 month sleepover. I adored her from that first moment of meeting. We are blessed to have shared in your light and love. You will be missed beyond measure,” a second person wrote on X, platform formerly known as Twitter.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Yash Nitish Bajaj
Yash Bajaj is a Chief Content Producer with a strong foundation in US coverage, digital strategy, and audience-focused storytelling. As part of the US Desk at Hindustan Times, he covers a wide range of topics - from American politics to sports (NFL, NBA, derbies, MLB and more). Before joining Hindustan Times, Yash served as Deputy News Editor at Times Now, where he oversaw international coverage and led a team of six. In this role, he significantly expanded global traffic through strategic planning, SEO-driven content execution, and meticulous trend tracking across platforms. He is experienced in managing high-pressure breaking-news shifts, coordinating live coverage, and building newsroom systems that improve speed, accuracy, and reach. Prior to Times Now, Yash held a position at Opoyi, where he headed the Sports and US news team. He developed broad editorial strategies, guided reporters across multiple beats, and played a key role in recruiting and training new talent. His responsibilities also extended to social media management and experimenting with innovative content formats. A passionate NFL fan, Yash is a die-hard supporter of the Cincinnati Bengals and has followed Joe Burrow closely since his college days at LSU. Whether breaking down top players' latest performance, analyzing team performances, or tracking roster moves, he brings the same dedication and sharp storytelling to his sports coverage as he does to American politics and breaking news. When he’s not writing, Yash can often be found watching games or debating the latest NFL storylines with fellow fans. Yash holds a Bachelor of Mass Media (Journalism) from HR College, Mumbai University. His interests extend well beyond the newsroom: he is an enthusiastic explorer of AI tools, a movie buff with an ever-growing watchlist, and someone who enjoys unraveling conspiracy theories for fun.Read More

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