Makena White Death: A wave of sadness swept the golf world in late September 2025 after the sudden death of Makena White, the 28-year-old longtime girlfriend of PGA Tour winner Jake Knapp. The news — first shared via Makena’s Instagram and then widely reported by major outlets — sparked an outpouring of tributes from friends, the golf community and fans around the world. Below we walk through the confirmed facts, the timeline, context on Jake Knapp’s career, how the family asked to remember her, and practical, compassionate guidance for readers who want to respond or support those grieving.
1) The short answer — what’s confirmed right now
Makena White Death: Makena White, 28, died earlier this week; the news was shared on her Instagram account by a close friend on September 26, 2025. Her family and friends described her as “one of a kind” with a “huge heart.” As of this writing, the cause of death has not been publicly disclosed. Journalistic coverage and statements from those close to Makena emphasize privacy as the family grieves.
2) How the news first circulated (timeline)
- A close friend posted the announcement on Makena White’s Instagram account on Sept. 26, 2025, saying Makena passed away “earlier this week” and asking for privacy while sharing a few details about charities meaningful to the family.
- Major outlets — including People, Fox News, E! Online, TMZ and others — quickly reported the news and reproduced the friend’s tribute while noting that the official cause of death had not been released.
- Jake Knapp has since issued an emotional statement about Makena’s passing, describing the difficulty of comprehending the loss and recalling their time together; People has the exclusive reporting on his reaction.
Because the family prioritized privacy, journalists are respecting that request and reporting only what has been publicly confirmed. Avoiding rumor and speculation is important in moments like this.
3) Who was Makena White? (background and public presence)
Makena White was 28 and known to many as the supportive partner of professional golfer Jake Knapp. She was active on social media, often posting in support of Knapp at tournaments and celebrating milestones with him; her Instagram profile reflected family ties, friends, travel, and personal joys. Close friends’ tributes describe her as warm, generous and deeply loved by her family and dogs (named Nelly and Fergie in published tributes). The public details about her life have largely come through the social posts and statements shared by friends during this difficult time.
4) Who is Jake Knapp — a quick career snapshot
Jake Knapp, age 31 (born May 31, 1994), is an American professional golfer who has risen through the PGA developmental ranks and secured notable results on the PGA Tour, including a breakthrough win at the Mexico Open in 2024 and competitive showings through the 2025 season. Knapp has played several PGA Tour events this year (see tournament results and bio profiles) and earned increasing recognition for his ball-striking and competitive poise. Coverage of Makena’s death has inevitably linked the personal loss with the public figure’s career, but reporting so far has kept the narrative respectful and focused on remembrance.
5) What the family asked (donations and requests)
According to reporting from People and other reputable outlets, Makena’s friends encouraged donations in her memory to causes meaningful to her family — specifically the Bruyère Brain Health & Memory Clinic and the Griffin Bell Endowment Fund — reflecting the family’s connection to those organizations after Makena’s mother faced Alzheimer’s disease. The Instagram tribute urged privacy for the family and prioritized honoring Makena’s spirit over public speculation about details.
6) Cause of death — what reporters say (and what we must not assume)
Multiple verified reports emphasize that no official cause of death has been released. Outlets repeatedly state that the family and close friends asked for privacy and that medical or coroner information has not been published. When a death is reported without an official cause, responsible reporting requires waiting for confirmations from family statements, medical examiners or official filings rather than amplifying rumors. Please treat any social speculation or unverified assertions as unreliable.
7) Community reaction — how the golf world is responding
The golf community — fellow players, friends and fans — has expressed shock and sadness. Social posts, on-course tributes and media coverage have recalled Makena’s presence at tournaments (her visible support at Knapp’s Mexico Open victory, for example) and the couple’s relationship since 2023. In their public messages, peers and journalists have mostly focused on expressing sympathy, sharing memories, and respecting the family’s privacy. Expect increased coverage in sports pages and remembrance posts over the coming days.
8) Why this matters beyond celebrity/influencer headlines
- Humanity & privacy: Public figures’ private losses test how media and fans balance curiosity with compassion. Responsible coverage centers on confirmed facts and honors family wishes for privacy.
- Mental health & grief: High-visibility tragedies often renew public conversations about grief, mental health resources, and how communities support bereaved families. Public statements encouraging donations suggest the family prefers honoring Makena through charitable action rather than invasive reporting.
- Community solidarity: Sports communities often rally to support teammates and families after sudden loss; readers can expect benefit efforts, memorials or moments of silence coordinated by tournament bodies or charities in the coming weeks.
9) If you want to help or pay respects — practical, respectful options
- Respect the family’s privacy. Don’t repost unverified rumors or private photos. Wait for family statements before sharing sensitive content.
- Follow the family’s requested memorial actions. The initial friend’s post suggested donations to the Bruyère Brain Health & Memory Clinic and the Griffin Bell Endowment Fund; follow official guidance on any memorial fund pages to ensure legitimacy.
- Send condolences — but consider private channels. If you personally know the family, a private message or card is more appropriate than public commentary.
- Support grief resources. If this news is personally upsetting, consider national grief or mental-health hotlines and community counseling resources — they can offer immediate support. (If you need local referrals, contact your health provider or community mental-health organizations.)
10) How journalists verified these facts (transparency about sourcing)
This article relies on first-hand reporting from reputable outlets that cited the family’s Instagram post, quotes from friends, and subsequent statements from Jake Knapp as reported to the press. The most load-bearing facts (Makena’s passing, the family’s donation requests, Jake Knapp’s public reaction, and the absence of an officially disclosed cause) are supported by coverage from People (exclusive reporting), Fox News, E! Online, TMZ and PGA/ESPN player pages documenting Knapp’s career background. Where those outlets reported the same verified facts, we used them as primary sources.
11) FAQs — quick answers readers ask now
Q: How old was Makena White?
A: She was 28 years old.
Q: What was her relationship with Jake Knapp?
A: They had been dating since about August 2023 and were publicly affectionate supporters of each other at tournaments; Knapp celebrated his Mexico Open win with visible support from Makena in 2024. (People.com)
Q: Has Jake Knapp spoken publicly?
A: Yes — People published an exclusive in which Knapp spoke about the loss and his difficulty processing the news.
Q: Is the cause of death known?
A: No — the family and reporting outlets have not disclosed an official cause. Do not trust or amplify unverified speculation.
12) What to watch next (follow-up items to verify)
- Official family statements and memorial details. The friend’s Instagram notice asked for privacy but left room for memorial guidance; check Makena’s official Instagram or statements from the family for confirmed instructions.
- Any coroner or medical examiner updates. If a public agency releases findings, reputable outlets will report them; that is the trusted route for cause-of-death confirmations.
- Tributes from the PGA Tour or tournament organizers. The Tour or specific events may issue statements, hold moments of silence, or organize remembrances in the weeks ahead. Follow official PGA Tour channels for those items.
Closing — compassion over curiosity
Sudden losses like Makena White’s are deeply painful for loved ones and ripple outward to fans and communities who admired the person. The most useful things readers can do are to honor the family’s request for privacy, support verified memorial efforts if the family requests them, and avoid sensationalizing unverified details. Our hearts go out to Jake Knapp, Makena’s family and all who knew her.
Disclaimer
This article summarizes publicly reported information as of September 26–27, 2025. It is not a medical or legal report. For official confirmations about cause of death, funeral arrangements or legal matters, please consult family statements, local public records, or official press releases. Images used in this article are royalty‑free or licensed for commercial use and are provided here for illustrative purposes.
Verified sources (only authoritative links used)
- People — Makena White, Girlfriend of Star PGA Golfer Jake Knapp, Dies at 28. (People.com)
https://people.com/makena-white-girlfriend-pga-golfer-jake-knapp-dies-age-28-11819720 - People (follow-up/exclusive) — Jake Knapp Breaks Silence on Girlfriend Makena White’s Death at 28. (People.com)
https://people.com/jake-knapp-breaks-silence-girlfriend-makena-white-death-11819895