“This would be so sweet,” said Makena White as her boyfriend, Jake Knapp, stood on the 18th at the Mexico Open’24 for his final putt. Her words came true seconds later, when Jake won his first Tour event. This win was extra special as the couple made their relationship public there. Who knew at the time that this would be Knapp’s first and last win she’ll ever see?

Makena White, at just the age of 28, passed away earlier this week. The news has left the whole golf community at a loss for words. The details of her death have not been revealed yet. The news, however, came to light due to her dear friend, who took to her Instagram account and shared the news of her death.

“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,” the caption of the post said, with a picture of a glowing Makena smiling through the camera.

As expected, several people commented on the post, including Amanda Balionis.

In the reply to the post, Balionis wrote, “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💛💛”

Makena shared a sweet and humorous bond with Balionis, as the latter was often present on the course, taking interviews of players, including Jake Knapp’s.

White was born in Ottawa, Canada, and spent most of her life there. A knack for being a leader, she quickly stood out in her school and college. She graduated with an Honors degree in Communication and Software Engineering in 2019, a course not so conventional. But it did help her with the technical and interpersonal skills that marked her professional success.

After her degree, she took on multiple jobs. At times, she interned with leases and contracts at Colonnade Bridgeport. Other times, she took sales jobs, activating brands on campus and recruiting students. In a way, Makena was always interested in trying out new things. She then gradually pivoted towards the medical field and started working with the sales of hospitals and surgeons.

Makena often described her role as “caring for the patients” and working to “change their lives for the better.”

“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 heartfelt tribute continued.

Like Jake, Makena was also a sports enthusiast. Although not golf, but hockey.

Her social media was filled with posts supporting the Ottawa Senators and the Boston Bruins. However, golf was still a part of her life, but only for a very brief time during her teens. It wasn’t until recently that she went back to the greens. And this decision helped her meet the love of her life.

Her relationship with Jake Knapp began in August 2023. Makena first noticed him through his Korn Ferry Tour interviews. Soon after, they connected and, after a while, started dating each other. All this while, they kept their relationship a secret from the outside world.

After their ‘hard launch’ in 2024, Makena laughed and asked online, “Does it still count as a hard launch if NBC saw it first?” From then on, she became a constant presence at Jake’s tournaments. She was there for his biggest achievements, including his historic 59 at the 2025 Cognizant Classic.

Just weeks before her passing, Makena and Jake Knapp marked their second anniversary. On Instagram, she called him her “sweet boy,” adding, “You make it so dang easy to be proud.”

It was her final post, a tribute to her boyfriend, celebrating the close of his second PGA Tour season and their journey together: “Forever grateful to be on this walk with you, here’s to many, many, many more.”

Her last post by the friend read: “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 💛”

And not a moment went by that tributes started to pour.

Tributes pour in for Makena White’s untimely death

Other than Amanda Balionis, there were many others who commented on Makena White’s post. Dan Rapaport shared Balionis’s sentiments and said, “What a light she was…❤️”

In all her posts, Makena could be seen with a bright smile, one that looked untouched by any sadness. Her warmth always filled the screens when she was seen behind the ropes, supporting her boyfriend.

Another commenter, likely a friend of Makena, wrote, “The saddest news to hear, she will be missed by many, she always brought a smile to my face when I’d see her ❤️❤️❤️”

To her family, this would be the biggest shock. Makena was someone who would easily make friends, and the stories of her kindness echoed through her circle.

Another user, a friend of Makena, wrote, “I will never forget the day I met this gorgeous, vivacious girl. The day she 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.”

Makena did her schooling at St. Joseph High School, where she served as the Athletic Council President, organizing events and rallying behind students. Then she attended McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario, for her undergraduate degree.

A personality like hers, she surely left an undeniably mark on many, as someone, likely her professor/teacher, wrote: “So sorry … a great student of mine. She kept me smiling and laughing.”

The PGA Tour-affiliated podcast Birdie Little Secrets also dropped a comment on the post saying, “We are so devastated. Makena was not just a guest on the podcast but a good friend. We will miss her light and her incredible way she made everyone around her feel so loved ❤️” They even posted Makena’s picture on their official account, calling her a “friend we’ll never forget.”

These are just some of the comments from the post, expressing their sorrows at the untimely passing of Makena White. Comments like these tell you how much a person’s presence impacted the lives of others. As the world gets to know of Makena’s death, one can only hope for the young soul to get some peace.