Makena White hadn’t planned on publicizing her “very private” romance with PGA Tour golfer Jake Knapp at the 2024 Mexico Open.
But, as life often does, things took a different turn.
On Monday, White reflected on past memories after the official PGA Tour X account prompted her 3 million followers to “share golf lore about herself,” nudging Knap’s fans to peek behind the curtain of her personal life.
“My (previously private) relationship was revealed on national television at the 2024 Mexican Open,” she started on X.
“A year later, I took a day off from work on Thursday, and the same boyfriend shot a 59, and there were our photos online.”
“I felt like I was part of the sewer system for two years.”
Knapp, now 31, celebrated his first PGA Tour victory as a rookie at the Mexico Open in February 2024. White was there at the Vidanta Vallarta course to join in the celebration, which became a viral moment online.
At the time, White and Knapp had been dating for six months. She had flown in from Canada just for the final round, following his surprising ascent on the leaderboard.
For a year and a half, White was a constant presence as Knapp became a reliable competitor on the tour.
A year later, Knapp shot a bogey-free 59 during the opening round of the Cognitive Classic at PGA National, a milestone that White witnessed.
When asked on X if she felt overwhelmed by the media attention following Knapp’s victory, she responded, “I’m not upset with anyone who was just sharing the story.”
Currently ranked 77th in the world, Knapp secured a top-three finish at the 3M Open last weekend, coming in third at 20-under par, three strokes behind the winner.
He will be competing in the Wyndham Championship, which starts Thursday.
Knapp turned professional in 2016.
