When did Jake Knapp start dating Makena White? Relationship explored as PGA Golfer says “it’s a tough reality to comprehend” her death

Jake Knapp, the American PGA Tour golfer, shared a close relationship with Makena White. The couple met and began dating in August 2023. At first, they chose to keep their relationship private. It was only months later that they decided to share their bond with the public.

Their public announcement coincided with one of the biggest moments of Knapp's career. Knapp and White officially appeared together after Knapp won his first PGA Tour title in February 2024 at the Mexico Open. Their joint appearance soon attracted the golf world. After that Makena frequently accompanied Knapp at tournaments.

Makena was known on the golfing scene as she assisted Knapp to become a professional golfer. Their association became more noticeable to the masses, as they shared content on social media and appeared together on the course. The couple looked like a stable union, with Knapp finding a great balance between his career and their relationship.

In a statement given exclusively to PEOPLE, Knapp wrote,

“Makena was such a thoughtful person whose selflessness toward others is something I will always appreciate."

According to him, those were qualities that were remarkable not only to him, but also to all those who knew her. He further added:

"We shared so many unforgettable memories together and now that she’s no longer with us, it’s a tough reality to comprehend.

Jake Knapp and Makena White's relationship timeline

In August 2023 Jake Knapp and Makena White started dating. In the initial months, they did not make their relationship public. This changed in February 2024 as Knapp won his Mexico Open. The couple was then shown together and this confirmed what many fans had been speculating about to be true.

Following her going public, Makena was visible throughout Knapp's career as a professional golfer. She would go to competitions and regularly post pictures and posts on social media. They openly supported one another and also appreciated one another in their successes. The media were also attracted by viral clips of them together on the golf course.

They could be seen together during historic golf moments. Among the highlights was when Jake Knapp shot a bogey-free 59 at the 2025 Cognizant Classic. Makena was there to be a part of it as he celebrated one of the largest rounds of his career. This combination of personal and professional accomplishments revealed how much she contributed to his success.

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Jake Knapp’s reaction to Makena White’s death

Makena White died unexpectedly in September of 2025, at the age of 28. This announcement was a shock to her family as well as the golf community. Friends, fans and professional golfers came with tributes and paid their respects.

Jake Knapp talked about the loss and described it as something that is difficult to understand. He said that it has been extremely hard to cope with her death. He recalled her kindness, her thoughtfulness and what she had done to support him when they were together.

In his statement to PEOPLE, he also wrote about how much her friends and family were going to miss her.

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“She had an incredible family, great friends, and her fun, outgoing energy will be missed by all of us. It’s an understatement to say how hard all of this is to process for everyone who knew Mak, especially her family and friends, who deserve privacy and respect during this difficult time.”

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