Makena White, 28, Dies; Jake Knapp Mourns

Makena White, 28, the girlfriend of PGA Tour winner Jake Knapp, died earlier this week, her death announced in an emotional Instagram post by a friend that offered no cause and requested donations to the Bruyère Brain Health & Memory Clinic and the Griffin Bell Endowment Fund. Friends and members of the golf community have paid tribute, and Knapp — who began dating White in August 2023 and went public after his Mexico Open win in February 2024 — released a statement remembering her and asking for privacy for her family. Weeks before her death, White posted a heartfelt message celebrating their relationship, and in recent months she had said she was scheduled for cardiac and vascular procedures and had reported episodes of elevated heart rate. No official cause of death has been released and family and friends are requesting privacy as details remain private.